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Buying a home in Houston County, Alabama

The typical owner-occupied home in Houston County is worth about $183,300, 13% below the Alabama median of $209,900 and 45% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $562 a year in property taxes, about 0.31% of their home's value, lower than the Alabama rate of 0.38%. The median household earns $58,626 a year, so the median home costs 3.1 times the median income (3.3 times for Alabama). 64% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 58% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Houston County at a glance

Houston County Alabama U.S.
Median home value $183,300 $209,900 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $562 $788 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.31% 0.38% 0.94%
Median household income $58,626 $63,999 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 64% 70% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 58% 54% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,277 $1,433 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.5% 19.0% 21.0%
Median rent $945 $1,007 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 28.2% 29.5% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1985 1986 1980
Vacant homes 13.7% 14.5% 10.1%
Population 108,140 5,086,768 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Houston County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Houston County home of $183,300 with 20% down costs about $1,110 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,416, 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 $47,580 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 23% of the median Houston County household income of $58,626; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $226,000.

The median rent here is $945 a month, so owning the median home costs about $165 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$36,660
Loan amount$146,640
Principal and interest$986
Property taxes (0.31% a year)$47
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$76
PMI$0
Total per month$1,110

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$6,416
Loan amount$179,980
Principal and interest$1,211
Property taxes (0.31% a year)$47
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$76
FHA mortgage insurance$81
Total per month$1,416

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Questions about home buying in Houston County

What is the median home value in Houston County?

About $183,300 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Houston County?

Homeowners pay a median $562 a year, which is about 0.31% 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 Houston County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,110 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $47,580 a year.

More about Houston 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