Alabama · FIPS 01117 · HUD FY 2027
Shelby County, Alabama Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Shelby County is $1,375 a month (rent plus utilities), 17% above the Alabama average of $1,170 and 22% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $109 (8.6%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $55,000 a year to afford it.
- $1,3752-bedroom FMR+$109 (+8.6%) vs FY 2026
- $1,2631-bedroom FMRAlabama: $1,010 · U.S.: $1,478
- $55,000Income for a 2-bedroom$26/hour full-time
- 2 of 672BR rank in Alabama1 = highest rent
| Unit | Shelby County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Alabama avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,177 | $1,024 | +$153 (+14.9%) | $949 | $1,379 | $47,080 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,263 | $1,155 | +$108 (+9.4%) | $1,010 | $1,478 | $50,520 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,375 | $1,266 | +$109 (+8.6%) | $1,170 | $1,761 | $55,000 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,727 | $1,583 | +$144 (+9.1%) | $1,500 | $2,266 | $69,080 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,941 | $1,801 | +$140 (+7.8%) | $1,728 | $2,607 | $77,640 |
How Shelby County compares
- HUD sets this rent for the Birmingham-Hoover, AL metro FMR area, which covers 1,073,780 residents in 5 counties.
- Across Alabama, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $921 (Winston County) to $1,434 (Baldwin County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $1,177, $1,263, $1,375, $1,727, $1,941. HUD derives the other sizes from the 2-bedroom figure with fixed ratios, adjusted where local data warrant.
- HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area FMRs. For the 17 ZIP codes mostly in Shelby County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $930 to $1,930.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Shelby County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35007 | $1,320 | $1,410 | $1,540 | $1,930 | $2,170 | +$120 (+8.5%) | 12% above |
| 35040 | $1,500 | $1,600 | $1,750 | $2,200 | $2,480 | +$110 (+6.7%) | 27% above |
| 35043 | $1,350 | $1,450 | $1,580 | $1,980 | $2,230 | +$110 (+7.5%) | 15% above |
| 35051 | $910 | $970 | $1,060 | $1,330 | $1,500 | +$40 (+3.9%) | 23% below |
| 35078 | $850 | $910 | $990 | $1,240 | $1,400 | −$30 (−2.9%) | 28% below |
| 35080 | $1,650 | $1,770 | $1,930 | $2,420 | $2,720 | +$150 (+8.4%) | 40% above |
| 35114 | $1,140 | $1,220 | $1,330 | $1,670 | $1,880 | +$20 (+1.5%) | 3% below |
| 35115 | $850 | $900 | $1,020 | $1,290 | $1,490 | no change | 26% below |
| 35124 | $1,540 | $1,650 | $1,800 | $2,260 | $2,540 | +$190 (+11.8%) | 31% above |
| 35143 | $800 | $850 | $930 | $1,170 | $1,310 | −$90 (−8.8%) | 32% below |
| 35147 | $1,630 | $1,750 | $1,910 | $2,400 | $2,700 | +$90 (+4.9%) | 39% above |
| 35176 | $910 | $970 | $1,060 | $1,330 | $1,500 | +$40 (+3.9%) | 23% below |
| 35178 | $900 | $960 | $1,050 | $1,320 | $1,480 | +$30 (+2.9%) | 24% below |
| 35185 | $1,360 | $1,460 | $1,590 | $2,000 | $2,240 | +$130 (+8.9%) | 16% above |
| 35186 | $1,220 | $1,300 | $1,420 | $1,780 | $2,000 | +$130 (+10.1%) | 3% above |
| 35242 | $1,440 | $1,540 | $1,680 | $2,110 | $2,370 | −$120 (−6.7%) | 22% above |
| 35244 | $1,430 | $1,530 | $1,670 | $2,100 | $2,360 | +$110 (+7.1%) | 21% above |
Sources
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD User Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 FMRs (file dated August 26, 2026) and FY 2026 FMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- HUD User Small Area Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 SAFMRs (file dated August 31, 2026) and FY 2026 SAFMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- ZIP-to-county assignment: Census Bureau 2020 ZCTA-to-county relationship file (file dated December 9, 2021), largest land-area overlap.
Fair Market Rents are HUD’s estimate of gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a modest unit, set at the 40th percentile of recent-mover rents. FY 2027 is HUD’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026. Housing authorities set voucher payment standards from these figures; check yours.