Real Estate Investing in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

16 ZIP codes • Population: 234,702

Should you buy in Tuscaloosa County, AL? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (54/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
2.9 / 5 (51/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 16.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Tuscaloosa County, AL?

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2.9/ 5

Investability

County-wide average

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

3.1% 5yr CAGR

5.0/ 5

Landlord Climate

Regulatory friendliness

Avg Investability ★★★★★
Avg Home Value $229,263
Avg Monthly Rent $1,243
ZIP Codes 16

Investing in Tuscaloosa County Real Estate

Tuscaloosa County is one of those Alabama regions where numbers warn before they reward. 10 cities, 234,702 residents, and a rating that reflects material risk.

Across Tuscaloosa's 16 ZIPs, the investment landscape runs modest: thin appreciation, soft rents, and demographic trends that don't obviously reverse in the medium term.

Tuscaloosa County's population trends and income levels suggest a region where affordability is strained, constraining how aggressively rents can rise without hurting collections.

A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in Tuscaloosa County, AL. Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Avg Home Value
$229,263
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,243
1% Rule
✗ Below
Landlord Friendly (AL)
★★★★★

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Tuscaloosa, AL metro

4/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
60%
Days Pending
2/2
61 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

🎓 Colleges & Universities in Tuscaloosa County

5 Colleges 44,975 Students 2,331 Off-Campus Renters
B
The University of Alabama
4-Year Public · 39,622 students
C
University Academy of Hair Design
Vocational For-Profit · 38 students
C
Stillman College
4-Year Private · 779 students
C
Shelton State Community College
2-Year Public · 4,536 students
📍 ~2,331 students rent off-campus
D
University of Alabama System Office
4-Year Public · 0 students

Investor Insight: With 2,331 students living off-campus, Tuscaloosa County has substantial rental demand from the college population — typically stable, lease-renewing tenants.

Cities in Tuscaloosa County

ZIP Codes in Tuscaloosa County, AL

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Filter this county’s ZIPs by cap rate, vacancy, appreciation and 30+ more criteria, and export your shortlist to CSV — with the Investor plan ($19/mo). Add weekly alerts when these markets move with Investor Pro+.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Tuscaloosa County

How much rent can I charge in, AL?

Average rent in, AL is approximately $1,243/mo per month. Against $229K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

How does, AL rank within AL?

, AL comes in broadly in line with on the AL comparison. Specific drivers include $229K prices and $1,243/mo rents.

Are homes affordable in, AL?

Expect median prices around $229K in, AL. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been measured.

Does, AL favor landlords or tenants?

, AL falls under AL landlord-tenant law, which is tenant-protective. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

Community Ratings

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