The typical owner-occupied home in McDowell County is worth about $171,100, 41% below the North Carolina median of $288,900 and 49% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $911 a year in property taxes, about 0.53% of their home's value, lower than the North Carolina rate of 0.66%. The median household earns $57,168 a year, so the median home costs 3.0 times the median income (4.0 times for North Carolina). 76% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 48% of those owners still have a mortgage.
McDowell County at a glance
| McDowell County | North Carolina | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $171,100 | $288,900 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $911 | $1,896 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.53% | 0.66% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $57,168 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 76% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 48% | 61% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,161 | $1,631 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 18.4% | 19.4% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $806 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 24.9% | 29.5% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1984 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 13.6% | 12.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 44,817 | 10,730,404 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in McDowell County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median McDowell County home of $171,100 with 20% down costs about $1,068 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,353, 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 $45,757 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 22% of the median McDowell County household income of $57,168; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $214,000.
The median rent here is $806 a month, so owning the median home costs about $262 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $34,220 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $136,880 |
| Principal and interest | $921 |
| Property taxes (0.53% a year) | $76 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $71 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,068 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $5,988 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $168,001 |
| Principal and interest | $1,130 |
| Property taxes (0.53% a year) | $76 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $71 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $76 |
| Total per month | $1,353 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in McDowell County
What is the median home value in McDowell County?
About $171,100 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in McDowell County?
Homeowners pay a median $911 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 McDowell County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,068 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $45,757 a year.
More about McDowell County
- Mortgage Refinance in McDowell County
- Debt Relief in McDowell County
- Home Equity Loans in McDowell County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
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