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Buying a home in Chatom, Alabama

The typical owner-occupied home in Chatom is worth about $174,100, 17% below the Alabama median of $209,900 and 48% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $537 a year in property taxes, about 0.31% of their home's value, lower than the Alabama rate of 0.38%. 75% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 42% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Chatom at a glance

Chatom Alabama U.S.
Median home value $174,100 $209,900 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $537 $788 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.31% 0.38% 0.94%
Median household income – $63,999 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 75% 70% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 42% 54% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,547 $1,433 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 22.2% 19.0% 21.0%
Median rent $382 $1,007 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 26.7% 29.5% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1981 1986 1980
Vacant homes 21.0% 14.5% 10.1%
Population 834 5,086,768 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Chatom

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Chatom home of $174,100 with 20% down costs about $1,054 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 $45,192 for the 20%-down payment.

The median rent here is $382 a month, so owning the median home costs about $672 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$34,820
Loan amount$139,280
Principal and interest$937
Property taxes (0.31% a year)$45
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$73
PMI$0
Total per month$1,054

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$6,094
Loan amount$170,947
Principal and interest$1,150
Property taxes (0.31% a year)$45
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$73
FHA mortgage insurance$77
Total per month$1,344

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Questions about home buying in Chatom

What is the median home value in Chatom?

About $174,100 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Chatom?

Homeowners pay a median $537 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 Chatom?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,054 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $45,192 a year.

More about Chatom

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