In Decatur, a typical home is worth $210,200 and typical rent is $896 a month. Compared with all of Morgan County, typical household income is 11% lower and the share of households that own their home is 9 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $192,501 to $219,954.
Typical rent
$1,042a month
▲ 2% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, September 2022 to September 2026: from $880 to $1,042.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Decatur is in Morgan 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 Morgan County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
63% of households in Decatur own their home, against 73% in Morgan County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Decatur
What homes there are in Decatur, 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
Decatur
Morgan County
Alabama
United States
Kind of home: Decatur and its comparisons
Measure
Decatur
Morgan County
Alabama
United States
Detached house
70%
72%
69%
61%
Attached house
6%
4%
2%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
5%
4%
5%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
17%
9%
12%
19%
Mobile home
2%
11%
12%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
The detached house is the most common home in Decatur: 70% of homes, near the figure in Morgan County (72%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Decatur
Morgan County
Alabama
United States
Year built: Decatur and its comparisons
Measure
Decatur
Morgan County
Alabama
United States
Before 1960
19%
14%
16%
26%
1960–1979
37%
32%
26%
24%
1980–1999
29%
31%
29%
25%
2000–2009
10%
14%
15%
14%
2010 or later
6%
10%
13%
11%
Homes in Decatur are older: the typical year built is 1977; in Morgan County, 1983.
There are fewer big homes in Decatur than in Morgan County: 66% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 72%.
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 $100K16%
$100K–$200K31%
$200K–$300K28%
$300K–$500K18%
$500K–$750K5%
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Decatur and its comparisons
Measure
Decatur
Under $100K
16%
$100K–$200K
31%
$200K–$300K
28%
$300K–$500K
18%
$500K–$750K
5%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
The FHA loan limit for Morgan County is $541,287, and about 94% of owner-occupied homes in Decatur are worth less than that.
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $5007%
$500–$99951%
$1,000–$1,49933%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $1,023
$1,500–$1,9995%
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Decatur and its comparisons
Measure
Decatur
Under $500
7%
$500–$999
51%
$1,000–$1,499
33%
$1,500–$1,999
5%
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Morgan County is $1,023: about 60% of rents in Decatur are below it.
With a mortgage
$1,278 a month
Morgan County: $1,349 a month
Without a mortgage
$445 a month
Morgan County: $440 a month
Owners with a mortgage
57%
Morgan County: 53%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Decatur is $1,278 a month, less than in Morgan County ($1,349); without one, $445.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Decatur+56%
Morgan County+55%
Alabama+47%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Decatur+37%
Morgan County+31%
Alabama+27%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Decatur+27%
Morgan County+32%
Alabama+27%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Decatur and its comparisons
Measure
Decatur
Morgan County
Alabama
United States
Typical home value
+56%
+55%
+47%
+53%
Typical rent
+37%
+31%
+27%
+33%
Typical household income
+27%
+32%
+27%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, home values in Decatur rose at about the same pace as in Morgan County: 56% against 55%.
Rents in Decatur rose faster than in Morgan County: 37% since 2015–2019, against 31%.
Housing prices ran ahead of income in Decatur: typical income rose 27%, against +56% for home values and +37% for rent.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Decatur and its comparisons
Measure
Decatur
Morgan County
Alabama
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
4.0%
7.2%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1.1%
0.9%
More than one person per room
2.3%
1.9%
1.7%
3.4%
People per household
2.38
2.50
2.48
2.53
Drive alone
80%
82%
81%
69%
Carpool
10%
9%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
3%
Work from home
7%
7%
9%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Much as in Morgan County, 2.3% of households in Decatur have more than one person per room.
A household in Decatur has 2.38 people on average, about the same as in Morgan County (2.50).
To get to work, 80% of workers in Decatur drive alone; in Morgan County, 82%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Decatur?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Decatur, worth $210,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 32% of the typical household income in Decatur, which is $61,563 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $70,362 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Morgan 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 Decatur. 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 $7,357 (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
$1,642
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$206,393
Total interest
$296,951
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $3,550 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,436 a month
Tight
$1,436 to $1,847 a month
Your payment · 32%
Hard
more than $1,847 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Decatur ($61,563 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,398
Property tax
$63
Home insurance
$88
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$93
You need at least $7,357 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 $1,642; principal and interest $1,398.
The city and its county
Decatur and Morgan County
Decatur is in Morgan 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).
Decatur
Map of Morgan County, Alabama, with Decatur marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Decatur
Morgan County
Other cities with a page
Decatur's own numbers
Typical home value
$210,200
Typical monthly rent
$896
Typical yearly household income
$61,563
Households that own their home
63%
Effective property tax rate
0.36%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Morgan County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,023
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+53%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.1%
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 Morgan County.
A typical home in Decatur is worth $210,200: about the same as the county and about the same as Alabama. With the typical household income in Decatur ($61,563 a year), a typical home costs 3.4 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.
Decatur3.4 years
Morgan3.1 years
Alabama3.3 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Morgan County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Morgan County rose 84% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Morgan County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Morgan County, 2016 to 2025
2016: −0.5% −0.5% 2016
2017: +5.8% +5.8% 2017
2018: +2.7% +2.7% 2018
2019: +5.2% +5.2% 2019
2020: +5.8% +5.8% 2020
2021: +14.8% +14.8% 2021
2022: +19.6% +19.6% 2022
2023: +6.7% +6.7% 2023
2024: +4.9% +4.9% 2024
2025: −0.4% −0.4% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Morgan County, Alabama and the United States
Period
County
Alabama
U.S.
Last year (2025)
−0.4%
+2.5%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+53%
+47%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+84%
+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
Decatur next to Morgan 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
Decatur$210,200
Morgan$212,000
Alabama$209,900
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Decatur$896
Morgan$864
Alabama$1,007
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Decatur$61,563
Morgan$68,845
Alabama$63,999
United States$80,734
See the full table
Decatur next to Morgan County and Alabama
Measure
Decatur
Morgan County
Alabama
U.S.
Typical home value
$210,200
$212,000
$209,900
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$896 ▲4% above the county
$864
$1,007
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$61,563 ▼11% below the county
$68,845
$63,999
$80,734
Households that own their home
63% ▼9 points below the county
73%
70%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$751 ▲5% above the county
$718
$788
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.36% ▲0.02 points above the county
0.34%
0.38%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
46% ▲1 points above the county
45%
49%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Morgan 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 Decatur
For a typical $210,200 home in Decatur, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Decatur's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,642a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$7,357
Cash to close
$13,663
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $93
Conventional, 5% down$1,603a month
Down payment
$10,510
Cash to close
$16,816
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $100
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,290a month
Down payment
$42,040
Cash to close
$48,346
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,484a month
Down payment
$31,530
Cash to close
$37,836
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Decatur
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,642
$7,357
$206,393
7.18%
FHA MIP · $93
$13,663
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,603
$10,510
$199,690
7.18%
PMI · $100
$16,816
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,290
$42,040
$168,160
7.18%
None
$48,346
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,484
$31,530
$178,670
8.18%
None
$37,836
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 Decatur is $896 a month: 4% above the county. In Decatur, 46% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Morgan County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,023 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.67 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 Morgan County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$830
$15.96
$33,200
1 bedroom
$835
$16.06
$33,400
2 bedrooms
$1,023
$19.67
$40,920
3 bedrooms
$1,315
$25.29
$52,600
4 bedrooms
$1,686
$32.42
$67,440
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 Decatur
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Decatur has 2 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,060 in 35601 to $1,110 in 35603.
2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Morgan County ($1,023).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Decatur, fiscal year 2027.
35601
$860
$860
$1,060
$1,360
$1,750
35603
$900
$910
$1,110
$1,430
$1,830
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
35601 $1,060$1,360
35603 $1,110$1,430
2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Decatur 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)
HUD lists 18 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Decatur. These are the largest.
East Acres1023 19th Ave SE, Decatur 35601252 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Decatur · Average payment: $327 a month · Average wait: 12 months(256) 353-4691
Sterrs Homes641 13th Ave NW, Decatur 35601206 homes, 202 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Decatur · Average payment: $339 a month · Average wait: 3 months(256) 353-4691
Jordan-Neill300 Wilson St NE, Decatur 35601156 homes, 146 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Decatur · Average payment: $405 a month · Average wait: 1 month(256) 353-4691
Summer Place I304 Courtney Dr SW, Decatur 35603136 low-income homes · 1 bd: 24 · 2 bd: 88 · 3 bd: 24 · In service since 1995 · For families
Presbyterian Towers1824 Presbyterian Dr SW, Decatur 35603102 homes, 101 low-income · For older adults(256) 350-3323
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.
There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Morgan County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Decatur or Morgan County. The ones below are statewide in Alabama: they work in Decatur 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 Decatur or Morgan 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 Decatur and all of Morgan 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 Decatur?
The typical home value in Decatur is $210,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Morgan County it is $212,000.
How much does it cost to rent in Decatur?
Typical rent in Decatur is $896 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Morgan County is $1,023.
What is the FHA loan limit in Decatur?
Decatur uses the FHA limit for all of Morgan 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 Decatur?
The typical homeowner in Decatur pays $751 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.36% of the home’s value; in Morgan County, the rate is 0.34%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Decatur?
There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Morgan County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
