In Alabaster, a typical home is worth $261,700 and typical rent is $1,372 a month. Compared with all of Shelby County, the typical home value is 20% lower, typical household income is 7% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 6 points higher.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $256,566 to $304,910.
Typical rent
$1,881a month
▲ 3.4% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, June 2022 to September 2026: from $1,567 to $1,881.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Alabaster is in Shelby County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Shelby County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Montevallo, the typical rent is $956: 30% less than in Alabaster ($1,372).
2
Nearby, in Montevallo, the typical home value is $220,700: 16% less than in Alabaster ($261,700).
3
The typical home in Alabaster is worth $261,700,20% less than in Shelby County as a whole ($326,100).
4
87% of households in Alabaster own their home, against 81% in Shelby County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Alabaster
What homes there are in Alabaster, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Alabaster
Shelby County
Alabama
United States
Kind of home: Alabaster and its comparisons
Measure
Alabaster
Shelby County
Alabama
United States
Detached house
86%
77%
69%
61%
Attached house
3%
5%
2%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
Unreliable estimate
2%
5%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
9%
12%
19%
Mobile home
6%
7%
12%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
0%
The detached house rules in Alabaster: 86% of homes, more than in Shelby County (77%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Alabaster
Shelby County
Alabama
United States
Year built: Alabaster and its comparisons
Measure
Alabaster
Shelby County
Alabama
United States
Before 1960
4%
4%
16%
26%
1960–1979
18%
12%
26%
24%
1980–1999
47%
40%
29%
25%
2000–2009
20%
27%
15%
14%
2010 or later
12%
17%
13%
11%
The typical year built in Alabaster is 1994, about the same as in Shelby County (1997).
Homes in Alabaster are bigger: 87% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Shelby County, 81%.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K4%
$100K–$200K19%
$200K–$300K40%
$300K–$500K30%
$500K–$750K4%
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Alabaster and its comparisons
Measure
Alabaster
Under $100K
4%
$100K–$200K
19%
$200K–$300K
40%
$300K–$500K
30%
$500K–$750K
4%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
The FHA loan limit for Shelby County is $541,287, and about 95% of owner-occupied homes in Alabaster are worth less than that.
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,49942%
$1,500–$1,99924%
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Alabaster and its comparisons
Measure
Alabaster
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
42%
$1,500–$1,999
24%
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
With a mortgage
$1,563 a month
Shelby County: $1,734 a month
Without a mortgage
$437 a month
Shelby County: $556 a month
Owners with a mortgage
74%
Shelby County: 68%
Owning costs less in Alabaster: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,563 a month; in Shelby County, $1,734. Without one, $437.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Alabaster+51%
Shelby County+54%
Alabama+47%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Alabaster+26%
Shelby County+34%
Alabama+27%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Alabaster+14%
Shelby County+26%
Alabama+27%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Alabaster and its comparisons
Measure
Alabaster
Shelby County
Alabama
United States
Typical home value
+51%
+54%
+47%
+53%
Typical rent
+26%
+34%
+27%
+33%
Typical household income
+14%
+26%
+27%
+29%
Much as in Shelby County, the typical home value in Alabaster rose 51% since 2015–2019.
Rents in Alabaster rose more slowly than in Shelby County: 26% since 2015–2019, against 34%.
Housing prices ran ahead of income in Alabaster: typical income rose 14%, against +51% for home values and +26% for rent.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Alabaster and its comparisons
Measure
Alabaster
Shelby County
Alabama
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
4.2%
7.2%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
0.6%
1.1%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
1.0%
1.7%
3.4%
People per household
2.78
2.61
2.48
2.53
Drive alone
73%
75%
81%
69%
Carpool
8%
7%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
3%
Work from home
18%
17%
9%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Households in Alabaster are bigger: 2.78 people on average; in Shelby County, 2.61.
To get to work, 73% of workers in Alabaster drive alone; in Shelby County, 75%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Alabaster?
A typical home is within reach of the typical income
We start with a typical home in Alabaster, worth $261,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 27% of the typical household income in Alabaster, which is $91,357 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Shelby County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Alabaster. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $9,160 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$2,068
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$256,959
Total interest
$369,704
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $4,419 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $2,132 a month
Your payment · 27%
Tight
$2,132 to $2,741 a month
Hard
more than $2,741 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Alabaster ($91,357 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,741
Property tax
$103
Home insurance
$109
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$116
You need at least $9,160 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $2,068; principal and interest $1,741.
The city and its county
Alabaster and Shelby County
Alabaster is in Shelby County, Alabama. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Alabaster
Map of Shelby County, Alabama, with Alabaster marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Alabaster
Shelby County
Other cities with a page
Alabaster's own numbers
Typical home value
$261,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,372
Typical yearly household income
$91,357
Households that own their home
87%
Effective property tax rate
0.47%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Shelby County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,375
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+48%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.2%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Shelby County.
A typical home in Alabaster is worth $261,700: 20% below the county and 25% above Alabama. With the typical household income in Alabaster ($91,357 a year), a typical home costs 2.9 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Alabaster2.9 years
Shelby3.3 years
Alabama3.3 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Shelby County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Shelby County rose 83% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Shelby County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Shelby County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +3.7% +3.7% 2016
2017: +2.7% +2.7% 2017
2018: +6.0% +6.0% 2018
2019: +4.2% +4.2% 2019
2020: +5.0% +5.0% 2020
2021: +10.5% +10.5% 2021
2022: +17.3% +17.3% 2022
2023: +7.5% +7.5% 2023
2024: +2.4% +2.4% 2024
2025: +4.0% +4.0% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Shelby County, Alabama and the United States
Period
County
Alabama
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+4.0%
+2.5%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+48%
+47%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+83%
+77%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Alabaster next to Shelby County, Alabama and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Alabaster$261,700
Shelby$326,100
Alabama$209,900
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Alabaster$1,372
Shelby$1,401
Alabama$1,007
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Alabaster$91,357
Shelby$97,961
Alabama$63,999
United States$80,734
See the full table
Alabaster next to Shelby County and Alabama
Measure
Alabaster
Shelby County
Alabama
U.S.
Typical home value
$261,700 ▼20% below the county
$326,100
$209,900
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,372 ▼2% below the county
$1,401
$1,007
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$91,357 ▼7% below the county
$97,961
$63,999
$80,734
Households that own their home
87% ▲6 points above the county
81%
70%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$1,221 ▼14% below the county
$1,423
$788
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.47% ▲0.03 points above the county
0.44%
0.38%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
54% ▲7 points above the county
47%
49%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Shelby County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Alabaster
For a typical $261,700 home in Alabaster, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Alabaster's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$2,068a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$9,160
Cash to close
$17,011
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $116
Conventional, 5% down$2,020a month
Down payment
$13,085
Cash to close
$20,936
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $124
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,630a month
Down payment
$52,340
Cash to close
$60,191
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,872a month
Down payment
$39,255
Cash to close
$47,106
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Alabaster
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,068
$9,160
$256,960
7.18%
FHA MIP · $116
$17,011
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,020
$13,085
$248,615
7.18%
PMI · $124
$20,936
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,630
$52,340
$209,360
7.18%
None
$60,191
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,872
$39,255
$222,445
8.18%
None
$47,106
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Alabaster is $1,372 a month: 2% below the county. In Alabaster, 54% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Shelby County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,375 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $26.44 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Shelby County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,177
$22.63
$47,080
1 bedroom
$1,263
$24.29
$50,520
2 bedrooms
$1,375
$26.44
$55,000
3 bedrooms
$1,727
$33.21
$69,080
4 bedrooms
$1,941
$37.33
$77,640
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Alabaster
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Alabaster has 2 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,330 in 35114 to $1,540 in 35007.
1 of the 2 is above the fair market rent for Shelby County ($1,375).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Alabaster, fiscal year 2027.
35007
$1,320
$1,410
$1,540
$1,930
$2,170
35114
$1,140
$1,220
$1,330
$1,670
$1,880
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
35007 $1,540$1,930
35114 $1,330$1,670
2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Alabaster when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Shelby County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Alabaster or Shelby County. The ones below are statewide in Alabama: they work in Alabaster the same as in the rest of the state.
Alabama state authority program with down payment assistance of 4% of the price (up to $10,000) as a 10-year second mortgage, alongside a 30-year fixed mortgage.Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).
Alabama state authority 30-year low-rate mortgage, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, with down payment assistance of 4% of the price, up to $10,000, as a ten-year second mortgage.Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).
Alabama state authority grant for closing costs with an HFA Advantage conventional loan: 1% of the loan if you earn up to 50% of the area median, or half a percent if you earn 50% to 80%.Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Alabaster or Shelby County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Alabaster and all of Shelby County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Alabaster?
The typical home value in Alabaster is $261,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Shelby County it is $326,100.
How much does it cost to rent in Alabaster?
Typical rent in Alabaster is $1,372 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Shelby County is $1,375.
What is the FHA loan limit in Alabaster?
Alabaster uses the FHA limit for all of Shelby County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Alabaster?
The typical homeowner in Alabaster pays $1,221 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.47% of the home’s value; in Shelby County, the rate is 0.44%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Alabaster?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Shelby County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
