Is Tuscaloosa County, AL good for real estate investing?

Tuscaloosa County has an investment score of 64/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #230 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Tuscaloosa?

The rent-to-price ratio in Tuscaloosa County is 8.32% annually, which ranks in the 93th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Tuscaloosa?

The median home price in Tuscaloosa County is $221,290. This ranks #443 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Tuscaloosa?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Tuscaloosa County would generate negative cash flow of $163/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Tuscaloosa County

AlabamaPopulation: 231,558

/100

Buy

#230 of 1,000 counties

#13 in Alabama (67 counties)

Market Snapshot

$221,290

Median Home Price

5% below national median

$1,534/mo

Median Rent

2% above national median

8.32%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 7% nationally

-$163

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$221,290

Down Payment (20%)$44,258

Loan Amount$177,032

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,534

Monthly P&I-$1,160

Est. Expenses (35%)-$537

Net Cash Flow-$163/mo

5.4%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-3.8%

Cash-on-Cash Return

8.32%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 5.4% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

64/100

Cash Flow(30%)

83/100

Based on 8.32% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

47/100

Based on -0.6% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

76/100

Price-to-income ratio of 3.6x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Above-average rent-to-price ratio (8.32%)
+Affordable relative to local incomes
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Declining home values (-0.6% YoY)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 5.4% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

231,558

Median Income

$61,645

vs $57,018 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

3.6x

Moderately affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
CurrentTuscaloosaAL	64	$221,290	$1,534	8.32%	Buy
CherokeeAL	64	$225,236	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
Saint ClairAL	63	$265,188	$1,674	7.58%	Buy	View
JeffersonAL	63	$208,520	$1,292	7.43%	Buy	View
De KalbAL	62	$201,634	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
MobileAL	62	$191,438	$1,258	7.89%	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

BuyTuscaloosa offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Tuscaloosa County in Alabama scores 64/100, ranking #230 of 1,000 US counties (top 30%). The 8.32% rent-to-price ratio exceeds the 1% rule target, suggesting strong cash flow potential.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-163/mo

Cap Rate

5.4%

Cash-on-Cash

-3.8%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Tuscaloosa?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties.

Single Family1-4 unit rentals, BRRRR House HackOwner-occupied strategy Multifamily5+ unit properties

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Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$221,290

Down Payment (20%)$44,258

Loan Amount$177,032

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,534

Monthly P&I-$1,160

Est. Expenses (35%)-$537

Net Cash Flow-$163/mo

5.4%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-3.8%

Cash-on-Cash Return

8.32%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 5.4% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

64/100

Cash Flow(30%)

83/100

Based on 8.32% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

47/100

Based on -0.6% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

76/100

Price-to-income ratio of 3.6x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

County

Verdict

CurrentTuscaloosaAL

$221,290

$1,534

8.32%

Buy

CherokeeAL

$225,236

Est. pending

—

Buy

View

Saint ClairAL

$265,188

$1,674

7.58%

Buy

View

JeffersonAL

$208,520

$1,292

7.43%

Buy

View

De KalbAL

$201,634

Est. pending

—

Buy

View

MobileAL

$191,438

$1,258

7.89%

Buy

View

The Bottom Line

BuyTuscaloosa offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Tuscaloosa County in Alabama scores 64/100, ranking #230 of 1,000 US counties (top 30%). The 8.32% rent-to-price ratio exceeds the 1% rule target, suggesting strong cash flow potential.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-163/mo

Cap Rate

5.4%

Cash-on-Cash

-3.8%