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Buying a home in Hale County, Alabama

The typical owner-occupied home in Hale County is worth about $127,600, 39% below the Alabama median of $209,900 and 62% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $406 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 $39,250 a year, so the median home costs 3.3 times the median income (3.3 times for Alabama). 74% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 35% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Hale County at a glance

Hale County Alabama U.S.
Median home value $127,600 $209,900 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $406 $788 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.32% 0.38% 0.94%
Median household income $39,250 $63,999 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 74% 70% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 35% 54% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,158 $1,433 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 21.5% 19.0% 21.0%
Median rent $715 $1,007 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 30.1% 29.5% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1985 1986 1980
Vacant homes 25.7% 14.5% 10.1%
Population 14,829 5,086,768 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Hale County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Hale County home of $127,600 with 20% down costs about $774 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $986, 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 $33,167 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 24% of the median Hale County household income of $39,250; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $151,000.

The median rent here is $715 a month, so owning the median home costs about $59 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$25,520
Loan amount$102,080
Principal and interest$687
Property taxes (0.32% a year)$34
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$53
PMI$0
Total per month$774

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,466
Loan amount$125,289
Principal and interest$843
Property taxes (0.32% a year)$34
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$53
FHA mortgage insurance$56
Total per month$986

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Questions about home buying in Hale County

What is the median home value in Hale County?

About $127,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Hale County?

Homeowners pay a median $406 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 Hale County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $774 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $33,167 a year.

More about Hale 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