The Huntsville metro is home to 504,712 people (up 12.0% over five years), with a median household income of $83,529. Typical rent of $1,387/month works out to 19.9% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Huntsville's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 19.4% |
| Professional & management | 18.3% |
| Manufacturing | 14.2% |
| Retail trade | 10.2% |
| Public administration | 8.4% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 19.9% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Huntsville market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,387/month suggests a household income around $55,000/year. The metro's median household income is $83,529.
By workforce share: Education & health care (19.4%), Professional & management (18.3%), Manufacturing (14.2%) (Census ACS 5-year).