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

Cullman vs Decatur for Rental Property Investing

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

◉
Cullman wins 3–0 across key metrics
Cullman leads on cash flow (5.56% vs 4.32% cap rate)
Metric
Cullman, AL
Decatur, AL
Est. Cap Rate
5.56%
4.32%
Median Home Price
$250,000
$225,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,510
$1,110
1% Rule
0.60%
0.49%
GRM
13.8x
16.9x
Price / Income
5.0x
4.5x
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

Cullman vs Decatur: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: Cullman has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 5.56% compared to Decatur's 4.32%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $250,000 in Cullman vs $225,000 in Decatur, while rents come in at $1,510/mo and $1,110/mo respectively. For context, the national average cap rate is 3.81% and average price is $333K.

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

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

Entry point: Decatur offers a lower entry at $225K vs Cullman's $250K — a difference of $25K. With a 20% down payment, that's $45K vs $50K. Cullman's higher price may be justified by better market fundamentals.

Bottom line: Cullman edges out Decatur 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 Cullman or Decatur.

Sponsored · Want to analyze a specific property? DealCheck imports real listing data and runs the full analysis for you.
Try Free →
Cullman, AL
5.56% cap rate · $250,000 median · $1,510/mo
Full analysis →
Decatur, AL
4.32% cap rate · $225,000 median · $1,110/mo
Full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cullman or Decatur better for rental investing?
Cullman wins 3–0 across our 7 key metrics (cap rate, 1% rule, GRM, taxes, vacancy, growth, appreciation). Cullman's 5.56% cap rate and $250K median price edge out Decatur's 4.32% at $225K.
What is the cap rate difference between Cullman and Decatur?
Cullman has a 5.56% cap rate vs Decatur's 4.32% — a difference of 1.24 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?
Decatur has lower property taxes at 0.42% vs 0.42%. On a $238K property, that's a difference of approximately $105/year in tax expense — money that goes directly to (or from) your cash flow.
Which city is growing faster?
Cullman is growing at 0.8% annually vs Decatur's 0.8%. Moderate growth provides stable demand. Cullman's appreciation rate of 2.3% also leads on home value growth.

Explore More

vs Anniston, AL →vs Auburn, AL →vs Daphne, AL →vs Daphne, AL →All Alabama Markets →5% – 6% Cap Rate Cities →4% – 5% 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.