The typical owner-occupied home in DeKalb County is worth about $152,700, 27% below the Alabama median of $209,900 and 54% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $496 a year in property taxes, about 0.32% of their home's value, lower than the Alabama rate of 0.38%. The median household earns $51,204 a year, so the median home costs 3.0 times the median income (3.3 times for Alabama). 78% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 40% of those owners still have a mortgage.
DeKalb County at a glance
| DeKalb County | Alabama | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,700 | $209,900 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $496 | $788 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.32% | 0.38% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $51,204 | $63,999 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 78% | 70% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 40% | 54% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,167 | $1,433 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 20.3% | 19.0% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $693 | $1,007 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 27.8% | 29.5% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1984 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 15.4% | 14.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 72,269 | 5,086,768 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in DeKalb County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median DeKalb County home of $152,700 with 20% down costs about $926 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,181, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $39,691 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 22% of the median DeKalb County household income of $51,204; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $197,000.
The median rent here is $693 a month, so owning the median home costs about $233 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $30,540 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $122,160 |
| Principal and interest | $822 |
| Property taxes (0.32% a year) | $41 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $64 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $926 |
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| Down payment | $5,344 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $149,934 |
| Principal and interest | $1,009 |
| Property taxes (0.32% a year) | $41 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $64 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $68 |
| Total per month | $1,181 |
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Questions about home buying in DeKalb County
What is the median home value in DeKalb County?
About $152,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in DeKalb County?
Homeowners pay a median $496 a year, which is about 0.32% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in DeKalb County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $926 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $39,691 a year.
More about DeKalb County
- Mortgage Refinance in DeKalb County
- Debt Relief in DeKalb County
- Home Equity Loans in DeKalb County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data