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Buying a home in Alabaster, Alabama

The typical owner-occupied home in Alabaster is worth about $261,700, 25% above the Alabama median of $209,900 and 21% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,221 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 $91,357 a year, so the median home costs 2.9 times the median income (3.3 times for Alabama). 87% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 74% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Alabaster at a glance

Alabaster Alabama U.S.
Median home value $261,700 $209,900 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,221 $788 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.47% 0.38% 0.94%
Median household income $91,357 $63,999 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 87% 70% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 74% 54% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,563 $1,433 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 19.0% 19.0% 21.0%
Median rent $1,372 $1,007 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 32.0% 29.5% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1994 1986 1980
Vacant homes 3.6% 14.5% 10.1%
Population 33,917 5,086,768 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Alabaster

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Alabaster home of $261,700 with 20% down costs about $1,620 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,056, 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 $69,425 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 21% of the median Alabaster household income of $91,357; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $344,000.

The median rent here is $1,372 a month, so owning the median home costs about $248 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$52,340
Loan amount$209,360
Principal and interest$1,408
Property taxes (0.47% a year)$102
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$109
PMI$0
Total per month$1,620

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$9,160
Loan amount$256,960
Principal and interest$1,729
Property taxes (0.47% a year)$102
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$109
FHA mortgage insurance$116
Total per month$2,056

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Questions about home buying in Alabaster

What is the median home value in Alabaster?

About $261,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Alabaster?

Homeowners pay a median $1,221 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 Alabaster?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,620 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $69,425 a year.

More about Alabaster

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