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Buying a home in Jackson County, Alabama

The typical owner-occupied home in Jackson County is worth about $159,500, 24% below the Alabama median of $209,900 and 52% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $480 a year in property taxes, about 0.30% of their home's value, lower than the Alabama rate of 0.38%. The median household earns $51,908 a year, so the median home costs 3.1 times the median income (3.3 times for Alabama). 75% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 41% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Jackson County at a glance

Jackson County Alabama U.S.
Median home value $159,500 $209,900 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $480 $788 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.30% 0.38% 0.94%
Median household income $51,908 $63,999 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 75% 70% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 41% 54% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,217 $1,433 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 19.9% 19.0% 21.0%
Median rent $780 $1,007 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 27.4% 29.5% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1985 1986 1980
Vacant homes 12.5% 14.5% 10.1%
Population 53,053 5,086,768 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Jackson County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Jackson County home of $159,500 with 20% down costs about $965 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,230, 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 $41,344 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 22% of the median Jackson County household income of $51,908; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $200,000.

The median rent here is $780 a month, so owning the median home costs about $185 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$31,900
Loan amount$127,600
Principal and interest$858
Property taxes (0.30% a year)$40
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$66
PMI$0
Total per month$965

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,582
Loan amount$156,611
Principal and interest$1,054
Property taxes (0.30% a year)$40
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$66
FHA mortgage insurance$71
Total per month$1,230

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Questions about home buying in Jackson County

What is the median home value in Jackson County?

About $159,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Jackson County?

Homeowners pay a median $480 a year, which is about 0.30% 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 Jackson County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $965 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $41,344 a year.

More about Jackson 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