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Buying a home in Dobson, North Carolina

The typical owner-occupied home in Dobson is worth about $173,900, 40% below the North Carolina median of $288,900 and 48% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,290 a year in property taxes, about 0.74% of their home's value, higher than the North Carolina rate of 0.66%. The median household earns $43,750 a year, so the median home costs 4.0 times the median income (4.0 times for North Carolina). 49% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 67% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Dobson at a glance

Dobson North Carolina U.S.
Median home value $173,900 $288,900 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,290 $1,896 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.74% 0.66% 0.94%
Median household income $43,750 $72,388 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 49% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 67% 61% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,311 $1,631 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 25.7% 19.4% 21.0%
Median rent $528 $1,228 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 26.8% 29.5% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1979 1991 1980
Vacant homes 10.4% 12.5% 10.1%
Population 1,652 10,730,404 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Dobson

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Dobson home of $173,900 with 20% down costs about $1,116 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,405, 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 $47,810 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 31% of the median Dobson household income of $43,750; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $159,000.

The median rent here is $528 a month, so owning the median home costs about $588 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$34,780
Loan amount$139,120
Principal and interest$936
Property taxes (0.74% a year)$107
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$72
PMI$0
Total per month$1,116

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$6,086
Loan amount$170,750
Principal and interest$1,149
Property taxes (0.74% a year)$107
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$72
FHA mortgage insurance$77
Total per month$1,405

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Questions about home buying in Dobson

What is the median home value in Dobson?

About $173,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Dobson?

Homeowners pay a median $1,290 a year, which is about 0.74% 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 Dobson?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,116 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $47,810 a year.

More about Dobson

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