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Buying a home in Mobile County, Alabama

The typical owner-occupied home in Mobile County is worth about $190,700, 9% below the Alabama median of $209,900 and 43% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $888 a year in property taxes, about 0.47% of their home's value, higher than the Alabama rate of 0.38%. The median household earns $58,880 a year, so the median home costs 3.2 times the median income (3.3 times for Alabama). 66% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 58% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Mobile County at a glance

Mobile County Alabama U.S.
Median home value $190,700 $209,900 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $888 $788 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.47% 0.38% 0.94%
Median household income $58,880 $63,999 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 66% 70% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 58% 54% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,404 $1,433 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 20.0% 19.0% 21.0%
Median rent $1,052 $1,007 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 32.5% 29.5% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1980 1986 1980
Vacant homes 13.1% 14.5% 10.1%
Population 412,590 5,086,768 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Mobile County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Mobile County home of $190,700 with 20% down costs about $1,180 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,498, 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 $50,590 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 24% of the median Mobile County household income of $58,880; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $222,000.

The median rent here is $1,052 a month, so owning the median home costs about $128 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$38,140
Loan amount$152,560
Principal and interest$1,026
Property taxes (0.47% a year)$75
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$79
PMI$0
Total per month$1,180

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$6,674
Loan amount$187,246
Principal and interest$1,260
Property taxes (0.47% a year)$75
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$79
FHA mortgage insurance$84
Total per month$1,498

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Questions about home buying in Mobile County

What is the median home value in Mobile County?

About $190,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Mobile County?

Homeowners pay a median $888 a year, which is about 0.47% 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 Mobile County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,180 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $50,590 a year.

More about Mobile 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