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Best Cities for Rental Property in Alabama

18 Alabama cities ranked by estimated cap rate. The average cap rate across Alabama markets is 5.7%, with median home prices averaging $227K and rents averaging $1,347/mo. Ozark leads with a 8.3% cap rate at a $155K median price. Alabama's low average property tax rate of 0.42% gives investors a significant cash flow advantage.

5.7%
Avg Cap Rate
$227K
Avg Price
$1,347/mo
Avg Rent
18
Cities Tracked

Alabama Rental Market Analysis

Alabama offers 18 investable rental markets tracked by CapRateCity. The state average cap rate of 5.7% is above the 3.81% national average, making Alabama an attractive state for cash flow investors. No cities pass the 1% rule at median prices, so value-add strategies are essential.

Prices and rents: Alabama home prices average $227K, which is 32% below the national average of $333K. Rents average $1,347/mo.

Taxes and costs: Property taxes average 0.42% across Alabama, below the 1.08% national average — a meaningful cash flow advantage that adds roughly $1,498 per year to NOI on an average-priced property. Dothan has the lowest rate at 0.4%.Vacancy averages 6.4%, in line with national norms.

Growth outlook: Population growth across Alabama averages 0.78% per year, led by Huntsville at 2.4%. Home values are appreciating at 2.3% annually on average. Moderate growth provides a stable demand foundation.

Bottom line: Alabama is one of the stronger states for rental property investing, with above-average cap rates and low taxes. Focus on the top-performing cities for the best risk-adjusted returns.

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How Alabama Compares to National Averages

Metric
Alabama
National Avg
Avg Cap Rate
5.7%
3.8%
Avg Home Price
$227K
$333K
Avg Rent
$1,347/mo
$1,524/mo
Property Tax
0.42%
1.08%
Vacancy Rate
6.4%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
0.78%/yr
0.92%/yr

Alabama Cities by Cap Rate Tier

Above 8% (1)7% – 8% (2)6% – 7% (4)5% – 6% (5)4% – 5% (4)3% – 4% (2)

All 18 Alabama Cities Ranked

1
Ozark, AL8.3% cap rate
$155K median$1,310/mo rent0.42% tax0.8% growth
2
Enterprise, AL7.9% cap rate
$175K median$1,420/mo rent0.42% tax0.8% growth
3
Talladega, AL7.1% cap rate
$175K median$1,290/mo rent0.42% tax0.8% growth
4
Troy, AL6.9% cap rate
$160K median$1,160/mo rent0.42% tax0.8% growth
5
Tuscaloosa, AL6.7% cap rate
$215K median$1,520/mo rent0.43% tax0.8% growth
6
Montgomery, AL6.3% cap rate
$205K median$1,380/mo rent0.41% tax0.2% growth
7
Mobile, AL6.2% cap rate
$190K median$1,270/mo rent0.44% tax0.1% growth
8
Dothan, AL5.8% cap rate
$190K median$1,190/mo rent0.4% tax0.3% growth
9
Albertville, AL5.6% cap rate
$240K median$1,460/mo rent0.42% tax0.8% growth
10
Cullman, AL5.6% cap rate
$250K median$1,510/mo rent0.42% tax0.8% growth
11
Hoover, AL5.1% cap rate
$255K median$1,410/mo rent0.41% tax1.2% growth
12
Florence, AL5.0% cap rate
$210K median$1,170/mo rent0.42% tax0.8% growth
13
Birmingham, AL5.0% cap rate
$255K median$1,410/mo rent0.42% tax0.3% growth
14
Anniston, AL4.9% cap rate
$170K median$920/mo rent0.42% tax0.8% growth
15
Decatur, AL4.3% cap rate
$225K median$1,110/mo rent0.42% tax0.8% growth
16
Auburn, AL4.2% cap rate
$340K median$1,640/mo rent0.42% tax0.8% growth
17
Daphne, AL4.0% cap rate
$365K median$1,690/mo rent0.42% tax0.8% growth
18
Huntsville, AL3.8% cap rate
$310K median$1,380/mo rent0.43% tax2.4% growth

Other South States

Mississippi (9 cities · 6.3% avg)Louisiana (13 cities · 5.9% avg)West Virginia (10 cities · 5.9% avg)Oklahoma (18 cities · 5.7% avg)Georgia (26 cities · 5.0% avg)South Carolina (15 cities · 4.9% avg)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alabama a good state for rental property investing?
Alabama has an average cap rate of 5.7% across 18 cities, which is above the national average of 3.81%. The best-performing city is Ozark at 8.3%. Average home prices of $227K offer affordable entry points. Property taxes at 0.42% are investor-friendly.
What is the best city to buy rental property in Alabama?
Ozark leads Alabama with a 8.3% cap rate, $155K median price, and $1,310/mo rent. The best city depends on your strategy — cash flow investors should look at the top of this ranking, while growth-focused investors may prefer Huntsville (2.4% population growth). Use the calculators on each city page to model specific deals.
What are property taxes like in Alabama?
Property taxes in Alabama average 0.42%, which is below the 1.08% national average. The lowest rate is in Dothan at 0.4%. On an average-priced home of $227K, annual taxes are approximately $953.
How many Alabama cities pass the 1% rule?
0 of 18 Alabama cities (0%) pass the 1% rule at median prices. None pass at median prices, meaning investors should target below-median properties or use value-add strategies to improve returns. The 1% rule says monthly rent should be at least 1% of purchase price.

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