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Buying a home in Phenix City, Alabama

The typical owner-occupied home in Phenix City is worth about $170,300, 19% below the Alabama median of $209,900 and 49% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $873 a year in property taxes, about 0.51% of their home's value, higher than the Alabama rate of 0.38%. The median household earns $50,053 a year, so the median home costs 3.4 times the median income (3.3 times for Alabama). 52% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 56% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Phenix City at a glance

Phenix City Alabama U.S.
Median home value $170,300 $209,900 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $873 $788 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.51% 0.38% 0.94%
Median household income $50,053 $63,999 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 52% 70% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 56% 54% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,315 $1,433 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 20.1% 19.0% 21.0%
Median rent $967 $1,007 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 32.7% 29.5% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1984 1986 1980
Vacant homes 13.4% 14.5% 10.1%
Population 38,499 5,086,768 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Phenix City

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Phenix City home of $170,300 with 20% down costs about $1,060 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,344, 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 $45,422 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 25% of the median Phenix City household income of $50,053; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $188,000.

The median rent here is $967 a month, so owning the median home costs about $93 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$34,060
Loan amount$136,240
Principal and interest$916
Property taxes (0.51% a year)$72
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$71
PMI$0
Total per month$1,060

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,960
Loan amount$167,215
Principal and interest$1,125
Property taxes (0.51% a year)$72
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$71
FHA mortgage insurance$75
Total per month$1,344

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Questions about home buying in Phenix City

What is the median home value in Phenix City?

About $170,300 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Phenix City?

Homeowners pay a median $873 a year, which is about 0.51% 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 Phenix City?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,060 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $45,422 a year.

More about Phenix City

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