The typical owner-occupied home in DeKalb County is worth about $235,500, 18% below the Tennessee median of $286,700 and 29% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $824 a year in property taxes, about 0.35% of their home's value, lower than the Tennessee rate of 0.50%. The median household earns $53,153 a year, so the median home costs 4.4 times the median income (4.1 times for Tennessee). 73% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 53% of those owners still have a mortgage.
DeKalb County at a glance
| DeKalb County | Tennessee | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $235,500 | $286,700 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $824 | $1,442 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.35% | 0.50% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $53,153 | $69,595 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 73% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 53% | 58% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,211 | $1,566 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 20.0% | 19.6% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $839 | $1,189 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 34.0% | 29.5% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1986 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 14.8% | 10.2% | 10.1% |
| Population | 20,959 | 7,066,383 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in DeKalb County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median DeKalb County home of $235,500 with 20% down costs about $1,434 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,826, 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 $61,465 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 32% of the median DeKalb County household income of $53,153; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $204,000.
The median rent here is $839 a month, so owning the median home costs about $595 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $47,100 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $188,400 |
| Principal and interest | $1,267 |
| Property taxes (0.35% a year) | $69 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $98 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,434 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $8,242 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $231,235 |
| Principal and interest | $1,556 |
| Property taxes (0.35% a year) | $69 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $98 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $104 |
| Total per month | $1,826 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in DeKalb County
What is the median home value in DeKalb County?
About $235,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in DeKalb County?
Homeowners pay a median $824 a year, which is about 0.35% 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 DeKalb County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,434 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $61,465 a year.
More about DeKalb County
- Mortgage Refinance in DeKalb County
- Debt Relief in DeKalb County
- Home Equity Loans in DeKalb 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