%
CapRateCity
Free cap rate calculators for every US market
← All comparisons

Auburn vs Cullman for Rental Property Investing

Side-by-side comparison of Auburn, AL and Cullman, AL — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.

◉
Cullman wins 3–0 across key metrics
Cullman leads on cash flow (5.56% vs 4.20% cap rate) · Auburn leads on population growth
Metric
Auburn, AL
Cullman, AL
Est. Cap Rate
4.20%
5.56%
Median Home Price
$340,000
$250,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,640
$1,510
1% Rule
0.48%
0.60%
GRM
17.3x
13.8x
Price / Income
6.9x
5.0x
Property Tax Rate
0.42%
0.42%
Vacancy Rate
6.4%
6.4%
Population Growth
0.8% / yr
0.8% / yr
Annual Appreciation
2.3%
2.3%
Population
50,000
50,000
Median Income
$49,614
$49,614

Auburn vs Cullman: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: Cullman has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 5.56% compared to Auburn's 4.20%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $340,000 in Auburn vs $250,000 in Cullman, while rents come in at $1,640/mo and $1,510/mo respectively. For context, the national average cap rate is 3.81% and average price is $333K.

Growth & appreciation: Auburn is growing faster at 0.8% annually vs Cullman's 0.8%. Auburn leads on home value appreciation at 2.3% per year.

Costs & risk: Property taxes are 0.42% in Auburn vs 0.42% in Cullman. Vacancy rates of 6.4% and 6.4% are mixed — Cullman has the tighter rental market.

Entry point: Cullman offers a lower entry at $250K vs Auburn's $340K — a difference of $90K. With a 20% down payment, that's $50K vs $68K. Cullman combines the lower price with a higher cap rate — a compelling combination.

Bottom line: Cullman edges out Auburn on most key metrics. With a 5.56% cap rate, it offers solid cash flow potential. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Auburn or Cullman.

Sponsored · Want to analyze a specific property? DealCheck imports real listing data and runs the full analysis for you.
Try Free →
Auburn, AL
4.20% cap rate · $340,000 median · $1,640/mo
Full analysis →
Cullman, AL
5.56% cap rate · $250,000 median · $1,510/mo
Full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Auburn or Cullman better for rental investing?
Cullman wins 3–0 across our 7 key metrics. Cullman's 5.56% cap rate and $250K median price give it the edge overall.
What is the cap rate difference between Auburn and Cullman?
Auburn has a 4.20% cap rate vs Cullman's 5.56% — a difference of 1.37 percentage points. This is a significant gap that meaningfully impacts cash flow. For context, the national average is 3.81%.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Cullman has lower property taxes at 0.42% vs 0.42%. On a $295K property, that's a difference of approximately $378/year in tax expense — money that goes directly to (or from) your cash flow.
Which city is growing faster?
Auburn is growing at 0.8% annually vs Cullman's 0.8%. Moderate growth provides stable demand. Auburn's appreciation rate of 2.3% also leads on home value growth.

Explore More

vs Albertville, AL →vs Anniston, AL →vs Anniston, AL →vs Daphne, AL →All Alabama Markets →4% – 5% Cap Rate Cities →5% – 6% Cap Rate Cities →Lowest Property Tax Cities →Best Cities $250K-$350K →
The CapRateCity Report
Weekly market analysis: highest cap rate cities, emerging markets, and deal breakdowns. Free, no spam.