Newlyweds Autumn and Jesse Lamb were in for quite a shock when it came time to renew their lease earlier this year.

Their landlord decided to up their rent about $300 a month despite having made few improvements to the property where they live.

Turns out they’re not alone. Rent is up across the board in the area according to the Waller, Weeks and Johnson Rental Index.

And if you live in Huntsville, you’re paying more for rent on average than residents in every major Alabama city except one: Daphne.

According to the rental index, Huntsville residents paid an average of $1,519 a month as of Jan. 31. Daphne residents paid $1,599. By comparison, average rent in Tuscaloosa was $1,450, $1,427 in Dothan, $1,321 in Birmingham, $1,290 in Decatur, $1,229 in Montgomery and $1,105 in Mobile.

Why is rent so high in Huntsville?