Home / Home Buying by state / Arkansas / Benton County / Decatur

Buying a home in Decatur, Arkansas

The typical owner-occupied home in Decatur is worth about $157,600, 16% below the Arkansas median of $188,000 and 53% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $832 a year in property taxes, about 0.53% of their home's value, close to the Arkansas rate of 0.55%. The median household earns $45,179 a year, so the median home costs 3.5 times the median income (3.1 times for Arkansas). 39% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 61% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Decatur at a glance

Decatur Arkansas U.S.
Median home value $157,600 $188,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $832 $1,040 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.53% 0.55% 0.94%
Median household income $45,179 $60,773 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 39% 66% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 61% 53% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,027 $1,345 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 21.2% 18.5% 21.0%
Median rent $813 $947 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 26.4% 27.6% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1994 1987 1980
Vacant homes 12.5% 13.5% 10.1%
Population 1,567 3,049,391 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Decatur

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Decatur home of $157,600 with 20% down costs about $983 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,246, 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 $42,147 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 26% of the median Decatur household income of $45,179; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $169,000.

The median rent here is $813 a month, so owning the median home costs about $170 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$31,520
Loan amount$126,080
Principal and interest$848
Property taxes (0.53% a year)$70
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$66
PMI$0
Total per month$983

Change the numbers in the calculator

3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,516
Loan amount$154,745
Principal and interest$1,041
Property taxes (0.53% a year)$70
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$66
FHA mortgage insurance$70
Total per month$1,246

Change the numbers in the calculator

Questions about home buying in Decatur

What is the median home value in Decatur?

About $157,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Decatur?

Homeowners pay a median $832 a year, which is about 0.53% 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 Decatur?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $983 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $42,147 a year.

More about Decatur

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