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Counties in Alabama where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

It’s no secret that many Americans are forgoing homeownership in favor of renting. In 2020, renters in the U.S. occupied 43 million housing units.

The Stacker team looked at data from a United States Census survey that revealed an estimated 43,378,800 renter-occupied homes in the United States as of 2017, which makes up 36.1% of all households in the country. In 2019, renting was more affordable than buying a median-priced home in 59% of the counties; in 2021, the opposite was true: Owning was more affordable than renting in 63% of U.S. counties.

Stacker compiled a list of counties in Alabama where people spend the highest percent of income on rent using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Of course, saving money by owning a home is unattainable for many Americans who don’t have savings that could cover a down payment, those who are denied a mortgage, or both. Keep reading to see where in your home state most of people’s take-home pay goes to their monthly rent.

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Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Cherokee County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.5%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.7%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.1%
– Total occupied households: 10,737
– Median household income: $41,919
– Median monthly housing cost: $542

Springfieldohio // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Jackson County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.8%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.5%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.5%
– Total occupied households: 20,695
– Median household income: $41,769
– Median monthly housing cost: $549

Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons

#48. Covington County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.9%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 58.3%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.6%
– Total occupied households: 14,852
– Median household income: $42,189
– Median monthly housing cost: $558

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#47. Chilton County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.9%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.7%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.3%
– Total occupied households: 16,927
– Median household income: $47,468
– Median monthly housing cost: $629

MPearsallArt // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Morgan County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.9%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.1%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.6%
– Total occupied households: 45,918
– Median household income: $52,156
– Median monthly housing cost: $693

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#45. Tallapoosa County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.2%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.0%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.2%
– Total occupied households: 16,205
– Median household income: $45,828
– Median monthly housing cost: $618

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#44. Winston County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.2%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.2%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.7%
– Total occupied households: 9,592
– Median household income: $35,788
– Median monthly housing cost: $483

Wmr36104 // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Geneva County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.2%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.1%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.6%
– Total occupied households: 10,383
– Median household income: $41,732
– Median monthly housing cost: $564

Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons

#42. Coffee County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.2%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.1%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.0%
– Total occupied households: 19,924
– Median household income: $55,637
– Median monthly housing cost: $752

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#41. Escambia County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.4%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.9%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.4%
– Total occupied households: 13,089
– Median household income: $36,275
– Median monthly housing cost: $495

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#40. Colbert County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.4%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.2%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.9%
– Total occupied households: 21,880
– Median household income: $48,065
– Median monthly housing cost: $657

Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Marion County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.5%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.4%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.6%
– Total occupied households: 11,997
– Median household income: $35,930
– Median monthly housing cost: $493

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#38. Lauderdale County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.6%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.7%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.6%
– Total occupied households: 38,471
– Median household income: $48,094
– Median monthly housing cost: $664

Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons

#37. St. Clair County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.7%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.4%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.2%
– Total occupied households: 32,036
– Median household income: $58,308
– Median monthly housing cost: $812

Prestinian // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Etowah County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.8%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.1%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.4%
– Total occupied households: 38,942
– Median household income: $44,637
– Median monthly housing cost: $625

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#35. DeKalb County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.9%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.8%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.8%
– Total occupied households: 26,040
– Median household income: $40,440
– Median monthly housing cost: $569

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#34. Madison County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.9%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.6%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.1%
– Total occupied households: 148,189
– Median household income: $65,449
– Median monthly housing cost: $921

Altairisfar // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Clarke County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.0%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.4%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.5%
– Total occupied households: 9,090
– Median household income: $37,404
– Median monthly housing cost: $530

Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Butler County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.0%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.2%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.0%
– Total occupied households: 6,506
– Median household income: $40,688
– Median monthly housing cost: $577

Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Coosa County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.1%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 59.7%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.1%
– Total occupied households: 4,032
– Median household income: $38,990
– Median monthly housing cost: $556

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#30. Dale County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.0%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.3%
– Total occupied households: 18,806
– Median household income: $47,214
– Median monthly housing cost: $676

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#29. Calhoun County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.6%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.1%
– Total occupied households: 44,605
– Median household income: $47,255
– Median monthly housing cost: $678

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#28. Shelby County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.3%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.7%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.2%
– Total occupied households: 79,630
– Median household income: $77,799
– Median monthly housing cost: $1,121

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#27. Marshall County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.4%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.7%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.5%
– Total occupied households: 34,883
– Median household income: $45,983
– Median monthly housing cost: $665

Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Elmore County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.9%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.5%
– Total occupied households: 29,708
– Median household income: $60,891
– Median monthly housing cost: $898

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#25. Cullman County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.9%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.6%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.4%
– Total occupied households: 31,034
– Median household income: $44,918
– Median monthly housing cost: $671

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#24. Talladega County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.0%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.5%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.0%
– Total occupied households: 31,395
– Median household income: $41,325
– Median monthly housing cost: $621

Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Autauga County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.7%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.3%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.5%
– Total occupied households: 21,397
– Median household income: $58,731
– Median monthly housing cost: $915

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Chambers County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.8%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.4%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.4%
– Total occupied households: 13,448
– Median household income: $42,289
– Median monthly housing cost: $663

Carol M. Highsmith // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Hale County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.9%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.8%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.5%
– Total occupied households: 5,650
– Median household income: $34,046
– Median monthly housing cost: $536

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Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Houston County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.0%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.0%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.7%
– Total occupied households: 39,311
– Median household income: $47,580
– Median monthly housing cost: $753

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#19. Marengo County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.4%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.2%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.2%
– Total occupied households: 7,361
– Median household income: $33,241
– Median monthly housing cost: $538

Jodybwiki // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Baldwin County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.6%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.5%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.3%
– Total occupied households: 80,930
– Median household income: $58,320
– Median monthly housing cost: $951

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#17. Wilcox County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.9%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 39.5%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.8%
– Total occupied households: 3,854
– Median household income: $31,014
– Median monthly housing cost: $514

Carol M. Highsmith // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Monroe County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.9%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.1%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.9%
– Total occupied households: 8,166
– Median household income: $30,441
– Median monthly housing cost: $505

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#15. Tuscaloosa County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.1%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.3%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.5%
– Total occupied households: 72,461
– Median household income: $53,326
– Median monthly housing cost: $891

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#14. Lee County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.3%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.1%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.9%
– Total occupied households: 60,237
– Median household income: $51,463
– Median monthly housing cost: $870

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Barbour County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.4%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.3%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.9%
– Total occupied households: 9,345
– Median household income: $32,525
– Median monthly housing cost: $552

M Floyd // Flickr

#12. Jefferson County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.8%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.9%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.4%
– Total occupied households: 261,231
– Median household income: $53,901
– Median monthly housing cost: $934

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#11. Bullock County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.8%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.0%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.4%
– Total occupied households: 3,521
– Median household income: $37,785
– Median monthly housing cost: $656

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#10. Macon County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.9%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 44.9%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.7%
– Total occupied households: 7,474
– Median household income: $33,370
– Median monthly housing cost: $580

Kreeder13 // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Pike County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.9%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.2%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.3%
– Total occupied households: 11,601
– Median household income: $37,446
– Median monthly housing cost: $653

Chris Pruitt // wikicommons

#8. Montgomery County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.2%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.5%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.6%
– Total occupied households: 89,527
– Median household income: $50,124
– Median monthly housing cost: $885

Altairisfar // Wikicommons

#7. Mobile County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.4%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.3%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.2%
– Total occupied households: 156,251
– Median household income: $47,583
– Median monthly housing cost: $847

DXR // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Dallas County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.5%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.4%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.4%
– Total occupied households: 15,910
– Median household income: $33,845
– Median monthly housing cost: $605

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Rivers Langley SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Russell County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 22.0%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 42.3%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 33.1%
– Total occupied households: 23,262
– Median household income: $42,443
– Median monthly housing cost: $778

Altairisfar // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Lowndes County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 22.8%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 37.9%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 32.6%
– Total occupied households: 4,251
– Median household income: $30,036
– Median monthly housing cost: $571

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#3. Sumter County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 23.0%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 40.1%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 34.9%
– Total occupied households: 5,202
– Median household income: $24,320
– Median monthly housing cost: $466

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#2. Perry County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 23.7%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 31.4%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 37.2%
– Total occupied households: 3,070
– Median household income: $23,447
– Median monthly housing cost: $464

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#1. Greene County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 26.4%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 36.6%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 36.4%
– Total occupied households: 2,951
– Median household income: $24,145
– Median monthly housing cost: $532

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