Montgomery, AL Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Montgomery, AL: Everything You Need to Know

Montgomery, located in central Alabama, is the state capital, as well as the birthplace of the civil rights movement.

The Local History 

Montgomery was founded in 1819, and named after Maj. Gen. Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War hero. It became the state capital in 1846. Montgomery also became the first capital of the Confederacy in 1861, but the capital was moved to Richmond, Virginia, in the same year. In the 1950s and 1960s, the city was known as the epicenter of the civil rights movement. In December 1955, African Americans led by Martin Luther King Jr., a pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, organized a peaceful boycott of the city’s buses after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man. The movement led to a court order ending segregation on buses.

Local Job Opportunities

Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) is located in Montgomery. It’s Hyundai’s first North American production facility, worth $1 billion in investments. HMMA and its suppliers contribute about $4.82 billion to Alabama’s economy. Other key players in the local economy are Rheem Water Heaters, Sabel Steel, Steris, Neptune Technologies, and Coca Cola Bottling Company United.

The Cost of Living in Montgomery

Living expenses are quite reasonable in Montgomery (population: 198,525), where the cost of living is 8.3% lower than the national average. Food and housing costs are also 8.3% and 36.7% lower than the national average, respectively. Montgomery’s median gross rent is $867 while the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $852. Alabama levies a 2% to 5% state income tax. The state’s sales tax rate ranges from 4% to 11.50%.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Significant public and private investments helped revitalize the downtown area and spurred the development of housing units, ranging from apartment complexes to single-family homes. Residents praise the renovations and expansion spreading to the Five Points, Cottage Hill, and Capitol Heights neighborhoods. If you prefer the suburbs, Millbrook and Prattville are not too far from Montgomery, and they both have great public schools. Millbrook is popular for its affordability while Prattville gets kudos for its diversity, safety, and amenities.

Schools and Higher Education

Montgomery is home to Alabama State University (4,413 students). The Lincoln School, founded in 1867, was the predecessor of ASU and the country’s first state-sponsored liberal arts institution for African Americans. Air University, the U.S. Air and Space Force's center for professional military education, is also located in Montgomery. In all, there are five universities in Montgomery and 10 other colleges within 50 miles of the city. It has 53 public schools serving 28,595 students.