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Buying a home in Fayette County, Alabama

The typical owner-occupied home in Fayette County is worth about $125,900, 40% below the Alabama median of $209,900 and 62% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $355 a year in property taxes, about 0.28% of their home's value, lower than the Alabama rate of 0.38%. The median household earns $49,488 a year, so the median home costs 2.5 times the median income (3.3 times for Alabama). 78% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 35% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Fayette County at a glance

Fayette County Alabama U.S.
Median home value $125,900 $209,900 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $355 $788 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.28% 0.38% 0.94%
Median household income $49,488 $63,999 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 78% 70% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 35% 54% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,200 $1,433 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 19.4% 19.0% 21.0%
Median rent $667 $1,007 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 23.0% 29.5% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1980 1986 1980
Vacant homes 19.9% 14.5% 10.1%
Population 16,053 5,086,768 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Fayette County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Fayette County home of $125,900 with 20% down costs about $759 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $969, 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 $32,545 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 18% of the median Fayette County household income of $49,488; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $191,000.

The median rent here is $667 a month, so owning the median home costs about $92 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$25,180
Loan amount$100,720
Principal and interest$678
Property taxes (0.28% a year)$29
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$52
PMI$0
Total per month$759

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,406
Loan amount$123,620
Principal and interest$832
Property taxes (0.28% a year)$29
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$52
FHA mortgage insurance$56
Total per month$969

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Questions about home buying in Fayette County

What is the median home value in Fayette County?

About $125,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Fayette County?

Homeowners pay a median $355 a year, which is about 0.28% 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 Fayette County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $759 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $32,545 a year.

More about Fayette County

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