Este sitio también está en español. Leer en español

Renting · Section 8

Data from November 2026

Renting in Greene County, Alabama

Greene County has a HUD fair market rent of $1,163 a month for 2 bedrooms (Fiscal year 2027). Renter households here pay a typical rent of $432 a month (Average 2020–2024). Paying the fair market rent without going over 30% of income takes $22.37 an hour, full time.

Four numbers to start with

Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,163
a month, HUD, Fiscal year 2027
About the same as in Alabama
Typical rent
$432
a month, Census, Average 2020–2024
57% less than in Alabama
Wage needed
$22.37
an hour, 2 bedrooms
Or $46,520 a year, to spend no more than 30% of income on rent.
Rent-burdened households
50%
spend 30% or more of income on rent
3% more than in Alabama

Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site)

Only here

Renting in Greene County: what sets it apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Greene County has the lowest typical rent of the 67 counties in Alabama: $432.

  2. Greene County has the lowest typical household income of the 67 counties in Alabama: $29,200.

  3. Greene County has the lowest typical rent in its area: $432, less than any of its 6 neighboring counties; next is Perry County ($592).

  4. 26% of households in Greene County have no internet at home, against 10% in Alabama.

  5. At 62%, Greene County ranks 6th among the 67 counties in Alabama for the lowest homeownership rate.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

Fair market rent

What HUD sets for each size

Every year HUD (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) publishes a Fair Market Rent (FMR) for each home size in Greene County. It is used to work out how much a Section 8 voucher covers. The table shows what you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income.

The fair market rent covers rent plus basic utilities, except the phone. HUD generally sets it at the 40th percentile: 4 in 10 standard-quality homes rented recently cost less. 24 CFR §888.113(a)

Fair market rent and wage needed To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).
Fair market rent and wage needed. To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).
Size Fair rent per month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $883 $16.98 $35,320
1 bedroom $889 $17.10 $35,560
2 bedrooms $1,163 $22.37 $46,520
3 bedrooms $1,386 $26.65 $55,440
4 bedrooms $1,528 $29.38 $61,120

HUD area: Greene County, AL HUD Metro FMR Area. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

The fair market rent for your ZIP code

HUD also publishes fair market rents by ZIP code (Small Area FMRs) for 6 ZIP codes in Greene County (Fiscal year 2027). Type yours to see it.

For 2 bedrooms they run from $1,030 in 35443 to $1,220 in 35462. 3 ZIP codes are above the county's fair market rent ($1,163).

Where HUD designates these areas, or where the housing agency chooses to use them, the voucher is figured on the ZIP code's rent instead of the county's. Ask your agency which one it uses. 24 CFR §982.503(a)(1)

  • 35443 · Greene County, AL $1,030$1,240
  • 35462 · Greene County, AL $1,220$1,450
  • 35469 · Greene County, AL $1,170$1,420
  • 35469 · Tuscaloosa, AL $1,170$1,420
  • 35491 · Greene County, AL $1,160$1,380
  • 36740 · Greene County, AL $1,030$1,240

Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)

Rent burden

How many households spend too much

HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Greene County, 50% of renter households are in that position; in Alabama, 49%, and nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).

Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.

50%

of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.

1,238 households rent in Greene County

  • Spend half or more of their income 23%
  • Spend 30% or more, but less than half 27%
  • Spend less than 30% 50%

Compared with the state and the country

  • Greene 50%
  • Alabama 49%
  • United States 51%

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Greene County

HUD lists 9 properties with homes for low-income households in Greene County: tax-credit apartments (LIHTC), HUD-assisted buildings and public housing. They run from the most low-income homes to the fewest.

with tax credits (LIHTC)
3
HUD-assisted
2
public housing
4

460 homes in all; 457 of them low-income, according to HUD.

  • King Village Public housing 200A Howard Irvin Dr, Eutaw 35462 188 homes, 187 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of Greene County, AL · Average payment: $309 a month · Average wait: 57 months · (205) 372-3342
  • Arrowood Apartments HUD-assisted 260 County Road 82, Boligee 35443 64 low-income homes · For families · (205) 336-8563
  • Sagewood Apts Tax credit (LIHTC) 940 W End St, Eutaw 35462 55 low-income homes · 2 bd: 55 · In service since 2007 · For people with disabilities, families
  • Eutaw Public housing 303 Carver Cir, Eutaw 35462 50 homes, 49 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Eutaw · Average payment: $467 a month · Average wait: 2 months · Homes at several sites · (205) 372-3926
  • Eutaw Manor Apts Tax credit (LIHTC) 670 County Road 131, Eutaw 35462 36 low-income homes · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 28 · In service since 1991 · For people with disabilities, families
  • Rosie L Carpenter Haven Tax credit (LIHTC) 200 Annie Thomas Cir, Eutaw 35462 33 low-income homes · 3 bd: 25 · 4 bd: 8 · In service since 2008 · For people with disabilities, families
  • Eutaw Elderly Village HUD-assisted 321 Tuscaloosa St, Eutaw 35462 30 homes, 29 low-income · For older adults · (205) 372-1028
  • Branch Heights Public housing 201 Branch Hts, Eutaw 35462 3 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of Greene County, AL · (205) 372-3342
  • Branch Heights II Public housing 423 Frenchie Burton Rd, Eutaw 35462 1 low-income home · Run by Housing Authority of Greene County, AL · (205) 372-3342

Source: HUD, retrieved November 6, 2026. LIHTC database, updated May 14, 2025; Assisted multifamily properties, updated October 23, 2026; Public housing developments, updated October 23, 2026.

Section 8

The Section 8 voucher in Greene County

The Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) pays part of your rent on a home you choose. Your public housing agency runs it. 2 agencies serve in Greene County. Here is what the rules say:

The rules, with their source

  1. You apply at the public housing agency. If you qualify, your name usually goes on a waiting list. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or noncitizens with eligible status as HUD defines it. Source: HUD

  2. Generally, your family must have very low income: no more than 50% of the area median income, by family size (the middle column of the table). Source: 24 CFR §5.603, §982.201(b)

  3. Each year, at least 75% of the families an agency admits from its list must have extremely low income (the 30% column). Source: 24 CFR §982.201(b)(2)

  4. If the rent is below the payment standard, the family generally pays 30% of its adjusted monthly income. If it is above, the family pays more. Source: 24 CFR §982.1(a)(3)

  5. When you move in, if the rent is above the payment standard, your share cannot go over 40% of your adjusted monthly income. Source: 24 CFR §982.508

  6. Each agency sets a payment standard for each size. Without asking HUD, it can go from 90% to 110% of the fair market rent. Source: 24 CFR §982.503(b), (c)

Mixed-status families: how assistance is figured
HUD income limits Yearly income of the whole family, before taxes.
HUD income limits by family size, Fiscal year 2026. Area: Greene County, AL HUD Metro FMR Area.
People Extremely low (30%) Very low (50%) Low
1 person $15,960 $26,000 $41,550
2 people $21,640 $29,700 $47,500
3 people $27,320 $33,400 $53,450
4 people $33,000 $37,100 $59,350
5 people $38,680 $40,100 $64,100
6 people $43,050 $43,050 $68,850
7 people $46,050 $46,050 $73,600
8 people $49,000 $49,000 $78,350

Area median income: $45,700. HUD income limits by family size, Fiscal year 2026. Area: Greene County, AL HUD Metro FMR Area. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2026

How much can you earn? Check your case

Possible payment standard

  • Studio $795 – $971
  • 1 bedroom $800 – $978
  • 2 bedrooms $1,047 – $1,279
  • 3 bedrooms $1,247 – $1,525
  • 4 bedrooms $1,375 – $1,681

The range the rule allows: 90% to 110% of the county's fair market rent. Your agency publishes its own.

Housing agencies that serve this place

Housing agencies in Alabama Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Your rights as a tenant in Alabama

What Alabama law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.

See your rights, rule by rule

Compare these rules with other states →

A summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.

How much can they charge for a deposit?
Up to 1 month of rent
Ala. Code §35-9A-201(a)
When must they return my deposit?
60 calendar days
Ala. Code §35-9A-201(b)-(c)
If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?
7 business days
Ala. Code §35-9A-421(b)
How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?
30 calendar days
Ala. Code §35-9A-441(b)
  • Only a court order can remove youAla. Code §35-9A-427
  • Protection from retaliationAla. Code §35-9A-501(a)

Help

Where to get help with rent in Greene County

These are the nearest HUD-approved agencies. They counsel for free or at low cost.

  • City of Tuscaloosa - Office of Community and Neighborhood Services

    2201 University Blvd, Tuscaloosa · 34 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 7 more
  • Community Service Programs of West Alabama, Inc.

    601 Black Bears Way, Tuscaloosa · 34 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 8 more

Tool

How much cash do you need to move in?

It starts with the 2-bedroom fair market rent in Greene County. Change the rent, the deposit and the fees to yours: the numbers stay in your browser.

Count power on top of the rent: in Alabama, the average home bill was $174 a month in 2024 (EIA). See electricity and gas costs

Your move

We use the place's fair market rent and the state's deposit rule.

Adjust advanced details
Deposit and rent in advance
The deposit, in

Let's do the math

Cash to move in

$2,326

What you need before you get the keys.

What adds up

First month
$1,163
Security deposit
$1,163
Total
$2,326

The deposit cap

Pick your state to see whether its law caps the deposit.

Compare each state's rules →

When you'll have it

Enter what you can set aside each month to see how long it takes.

What helps

  • Ask for a receipt for every payment and keep a copy of the lease.
  • On move-in day, walk through the home and take dated photos.
  • Never send money for a home you haven't seen or a lease you haven't read.

This is a planning estimate, not a price. What you are asked for depends on the landlord, your lease and your state's and city's rules. It is not legal advice.

Guides

Before you sign

Frequently asked questions

What is the fair market rent in Greene County?

According to HUD (Fiscal year 2027): Studio: $883; 1 bedroom: $889; 2 bedrooms: $1,163; 3 bedrooms: $1,386; 4 bedrooms: $1,528. It covers rent plus basic utilities, except the phone.

How much do you need to earn to rent in Greene County?

Paying the 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,163) without spending more than 30% of income takes $22.37 an hour full time, or $46,520 a year.

Who qualifies for Section 8 in Greene County?

Generally, families with very low income: no more than 50% of the area median income. For 4 people, HUD's limit here is $37,100 a year (Fiscal year 2026). The family usually pays 30% of its adjusted monthly income. You apply at the housing agency.

How much does Section 8 pay in Greene County?

The voucher pays up to your housing agency's payment standard, minus your share. The rule lets the agency set it between 90% and 110% of the fair market rent: for 2 bedrooms here, between $1,047 and $1,279 a month. Your agency publishes its figure.

Does the fair market rent change by ZIP code in Greene County?

For 2 bedrooms they run from $1,030 in 35443 to $1,220 in 35462. Where HUD designates these areas, or where the housing agency chooses to use them, the voucher is figured on the ZIP code's rent instead of the county's. Ask your agency which one it uses.

How many low-income apartments are there in Greene County?

HUD lists 9 properties with homes for low-income households in Greene County: tax-credit apartments (LIHTC), HUD-assisted buildings and public housing. They run from the most low-income homes to the fewest. For tax-credit apartments and HUD-assisted buildings, you apply directly at the building's management office. They tell you whether units are open and how to apply; HUD does not have that information.

How many households spend too much on rent in Greene County?

HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Greene County, 50% of renter households are in that position; in Alabama, 49%, and nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).