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.

πŸ“ˆ 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 β€” 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 β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…
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
βœ— Below
Landlord Friendly (AL)
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

πŸ“‰ Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Tuscaloosa, AL metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
60%
Days Pending
1/2
53 days

View all metro crash risk rankings β†’

πŸŽ“ Colleges & Universities in Tuscaloosa County

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

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

Cities in Tuscaloosa County

ZIP Codes in Tuscaloosa County, AL

35405 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Tuscaloosa
Population 48,564
Avg Home $247,292
Avg Rent $1,300/mo
35401 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Tuscaloosa
Population 40,507
Avg Home $179,346
Avg Rent $1,324/mo
35404 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Tuscaloosa
Population 23,553
Avg Home $165,044
Avg Rent $1,386/mo
35111 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Mc Calla
Population 20,661
Avg Home $290,716
Avg Rent $1,963/mo
35475 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Northport
Population 19,991
Avg Home $304,934
Avg Rent $972/mo
35473 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Northport
Population 19,094
Avg Home $273,484
Avg Rent $1,621/mo
35406 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Tuscaloosa
Population 18,533
Avg Home $461,133
Avg Rent $1,619/mo
35453 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Cottondale
Population 12,522
Avg Home $189,190
Avg Rent $999/mo
35476 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Northport
Population 8,568
Avg Home $200,333
Avg Rent $1,340/mo
35490 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Vance
Population 4,891
Avg Home $214,463
Avg Rent $936/mo
35452 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Coker
Population 4,307
Avg Home $199,437
Avg Rent $1,350/mo
35444 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Brookwood
Population 4,047
Avg Home $186,270
Avg Rent $1,116/mo
35456 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Cottondale
Population 4,015
Avg Home $164,194
Avg Rent $1,053/mo
35463 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Fosters
Population 1,885
Avg Home $193,137
Avg Rent $1,053/mo
35480 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Ralph
Population 1,792
Avg Home $214,789
Avg Rent $927/mo
35446 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Buhl
Population 1,772
Avg Home $184,440
Avg Rent $927/mo

Screen every market in Tuscaloosa County

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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