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Buying a home in Old Fort, North Carolina

The typical owner-occupied home in Old Fort is worth about $135,900, 53% below the North Carolina median of $288,900 and 59% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,026 a year in property taxes, about 0.75% of their home's value, higher than the North Carolina rate of 0.66%. The median household earns $47,500 a year, so the median home costs 2.9 times the median income (4.0 times for North Carolina). 48% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 45% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Old Fort at a glance

Old Fort North Carolina U.S.
Median home value $135,900 $288,900 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,026 $1,896 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.75% 0.66% 0.94%
Median household income $47,500 $72,388 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 48% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 45% 61% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,114 $1,631 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 21.5% 19.4% 21.0%
Median rent $818 $1,228 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 25.4% 29.5% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1965 1991 1980
Vacant homes 24.2% 12.5% 10.1%
Population 555 10,730,404 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Old Fort

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Old Fort home of $135,900 with 20% down costs about $873 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,099, 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 $37,411 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 22% of the median Old Fort household income of $47,500; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $173,000.

The median rent here is $818 a month, so owning the median home costs about $55 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$27,180
Loan amount$108,720
Principal and interest$731
Property taxes (0.75% a year)$85
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$57
PMI$0
Total per month$873

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,756
Loan amount$133,439
Principal and interest$898
Property taxes (0.75% a year)$85
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$57
FHA mortgage insurance$60
Total per month$1,099

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Questions about home buying in Old Fort

What is the median home value in Old Fort?

About $135,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Old Fort?

Homeowners pay a median $1,026 a year, which is about 0.75% 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 Old Fort?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $873 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $37,411 a year.

More about Old Fort

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