Household Affordability Tracker

Pay, prices, housing, everyday bills, health costs and late payments for the U.S., every state, county and metro area, each beside its benchmark.

How Alabama compares with the U.S.

In August 2026, the average monthly home electricity bill in Alabama was $254, 21% higher than the U.S. figure of $209, the 4th highest among the 50 states and D.C.

In FY 2027, the hourly pay needed to rent a two-bedroom home in Alabama was $22.59, 36% lower than the U.S. figure of $35.45, the 8th lowest among the 50 states and D.C.

Pay and jobs

Housing

Prices and bills

Health and food

Late payments

Each figure is the latest its source has published, so dates differ. Select a card for its history, map and download.

Pick a county above for childcare prices, which are published by county. Home insurance history is published for 5 ZIP codes, 2018–2022.

See these figures as a table
Alabama: latest published figures
TopicAlabamaU.S.PeriodSource
Weekly paya week, average for private-sector workers$1,161$1,289September 2026U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics
Household incomea year, median household income$66,704$81,6042024U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE)
Unemploymentof the labor force, not seasonally adjusted3.7%4%September 2026U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Povertyof people live below the poverty line15.2%12.1%2024U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE)
Home valuestypical home value, Zillow$238,614$366,157September 2026Zillow, Zillow Home Value Index
Owning a homea month, homeowners with a mortgage$1,433$1,9632020–2024U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey
Rentinga month, median rent with utilities$1,007$1,4132020–2024U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey
Pay needed to rentan hour, full time, for a two-bedroom home at HUD’s Fair Market Rent$22.59$35.45FY 2027American Default Research calculation from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents
Prices compared with the U.S.88.823—2024U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
Groceriesa month, USDA thrifty food plan for a family of four$1,024SameSeptember 2026U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Plans
Electricity billa month, average home bill$254$209August 2026U.S. Energy Information Administration
Natural gas for homesper thousand cubic feet$25.16$26.45July 2026U.S. Energy Information Administration, Natural Gas Prices
Health insurance at worka year, what workers pay toward a family plan$7,540$7,3142025Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey–Insurance Component
Marketplace health plansa month, average after tax credits$126$1782026Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files
Uninsuredof people under 65 have no health insurance10%9.8%2024U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates
Food insecurityof households, three-year average12.09%13.34%2022–2024U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, Household Food Security in the United States
Debt in collectionsof people with a credit record30.65%22.71%August 2025Urban Institute, Debt in America
Credit cards 90+ days lateof credit card balances, end of year12.22%12.36%2025Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax
Auto loans 90+ days lateof auto loan balances, end of year6.55%5.18%2025Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax
Mortgages 90+ days lateof mortgages, not counting foreclosures1.1%0.9%December 2025Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Mortgage Performance Trends

For reporters

Each sentence below states a figure, its date and its source, ready to paste. Chart images carry the same source line.

  1. In September 2026 (preliminary), average weekly pay for private-sector workers in Alabama was $1,161, 10% lower than the U.S. figure of $1,289 (20th lowest of 50 states and D.C.). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, compiled by American Default Research.

  2. In 2024, median household income in Alabama was $66,704, 18% lower than the U.S. figure of $81,604 (7th lowest of 50 states and D.C.). That is the highest since the series began in 1989. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), compiled by American Default Research.

  3. In September 2026 (preliminary), the unemployment rate in Alabama was 3.7%, compared with the U.S. figure of 4% (tied for 24th highest of 50 states and D.C.). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, compiled by American Default Research.

  4. In 2024, the poverty rate in Alabama was 15.2%, compared with the U.S. figure of 12.1% (8th highest of 50 states and D.C.). That is the lowest since 2020. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), compiled by American Default Research.

  5. In September 2026, the typical home value in Alabama was $238,614, 35% lower than the U.S. figure of $366,157 (8th lowest of 50 states and D.C.). Source: Zillow, Zillow Home Value Index, compiled by American Default Research.

  6. In 2020–2024, monthly costs for homeowners with a mortgage in Alabama were $1,433, 27% lower than the U.S. figure of $1,963 (tied for 5th lowest of 50 states and D.C.). That is the highest since the series began in 2005–2009. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, compiled by American Default Research.

  7. In 2020–2024, median rent in Alabama was $1,007, 29% lower than the U.S. figure of $1,413 (9th lowest of 50 states and D.C.). That is the highest since the series began in 2005–2009. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, compiled by American Default Research.

  8. In FY 2027, the hourly pay needed to rent a two-bedroom home in Alabama was $22.59, 36% lower than the U.S. figure of $35.45 (8th lowest of 50 states and D.C.). That is the highest since the series began in FY 1983. Source: American Default Research calculation from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents, compiled by American Default Research.

  9. In 2024, overall prices in Alabama were 11% lower than the U.S. average. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, compiled by American Default Research.

  10. In September 2026, the thrifty food budget for a family of four in the mainland U.S. was $1,024, 2% higher than in September 2025. Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Plans, compiled by American Default Research.

  11. In August 2026 (preliminary), the average monthly home electricity bill in Alabama was $254, 21% higher than the U.S. figure of $209 (4th highest of 50 states and D.C.). That is the highest since August 2007. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, compiled by American Default Research.

  12. In July 2026, the average residential natural gas price in Alabama was $25.16, 5% lower than the U.S. figure of $26.45 (22nd lowest of 44 states). Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Natural Gas Prices, compiled by American Default Research.

  13. In 2025, what workers pay toward a family health plan in Alabama was $7,540, 3% higher than the U.S. figure of $7,314 (17th highest of 50 states and D.C.). Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey–Insurance Component, compiled by American Default Research.

  14. In 2026, the average Marketplace premium after tax credits in Alabama was $126, 29% lower than the U.S. figure of $178 (4th lowest of 50 states and D.C.). That is the highest since the series began in 2021. Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Public Use Files, compiled by American Default Research.

  15. In 2024, the share of people under 65 without health insurance in Alabama was 10%, compared with the U.S. figure of 9.8% (18th highest of 50 states and D.C.). That is the lowest since the series began in 2008. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates, compiled by American Default Research.

  16. In 2022–2024, the share of households that were food insecure in Alabama was 12.1%, compared with the U.S. figure of 13.3% (22nd lowest of 50 states and D.C.). Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, Household Food Security in the United States, compiled by American Default Research.

  17. In August 2025, the share of people with debt in collections in Alabama was 30.6%, compared with the U.S. figure of 22.7% (5th highest of 50 states and D.C.). Source: Urban Institute, Debt in America, compiled by American Default Research.

  18. In 2025, the share of credit card balances 90 or more days late in Alabama was 12.2%, compared with the U.S. figure of 12.4% (tied for 16th highest of 50 states and D.C.). That is the highest since the series began in 2003. Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax, compiled by American Default Research.

  19. In 2025, the share of auto loan balances 90 or more days late in Alabama was 6.6%, compared with the U.S. figure of 5.2% (tied for 4th highest of 50 states and D.C.). That is the highest since 2019. Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax, compiled by American Default Research.

  20. In December 2025, the share of mortgages 90 or more days late in Alabama was 1.1%, compared with the U.S. figure of 0.9% (tied for 9th highest of 50 states and D.C.). That is the highest since February 2020. Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Mortgage Performance Trends, compiled by American Default Research.

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Cite this page: American Default Research. “Alabama.” Household Affordability Tracker. https://americandefault.org/affordability/?place=AL. Accessed October 29, 2026.

Sources and method

Figures come from public data sources. Each measure keeps its own reporting period, population and definition; these figures are not added into a household budget.

Each card opens its topic, with the full source and a link to it, methods, available geography, history and downloads. The table above names every source in full. National electricity figures are calculated from state totals, weighted by sales or customer accounts.

Typical home values and asking rents: Data provided by Zillow Group.

We write with AI tools. Every figure comes from the data and sources named on this page, and automated checks compare it with them before it's published.