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Buying a home in Cleveland, North Carolina

The typical owner-occupied home in Cleveland is worth about $242,600, 16% below the North Carolina median of $288,900 and 27% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,609 a year in property taxes, about 0.66% of their home's value, close to the North Carolina rate of 0.66%. The median household earns $58,750 a year, so the median home costs 4.1 times the median income (4.0 times for North Carolina). 79% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 59% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Cleveland at a glance

Cleveland North Carolina U.S.
Median home value $242,600 $288,900 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,609 $1,896 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.66% 0.66% 0.94%
Median household income $58,750 $72,388 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 79% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 59% 61% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,481 $1,631 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 21.5% 19.4% 21.0%
Median rent $739 $1,228 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 24.4% 29.5% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1982 1991 1980
Vacant homes 14.3% 12.5% 10.1%
Population 1,080 10,730,404 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Cleveland

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Cleveland home of $242,600 with 20% down costs about $1,540 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,944, 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 $66,004 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 31% of the median Cleveland household income of $58,750; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $216,000.

The median rent here is $739 a month, so owning the median home costs about $801 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$48,520
Loan amount$194,080
Principal and interest$1,306
Property taxes (0.66% a year)$133
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$101
PMI$0
Total per month$1,540

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$8,491
Loan amount$238,206
Principal and interest$1,602
Property taxes (0.66% a year)$133
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$101
FHA mortgage insurance$107
Total per month$1,944

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Questions about home buying in Cleveland

What is the median home value in Cleveland?

About $242,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Cleveland?

Homeowners pay a median $1,609 a year, which is about 0.66% 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 Cleveland?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,540 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $66,004 a year.

More about Cleveland

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