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County in Alabama

DeKalb County, Alabama

DeKalb County, in Alabama, has 72,269 residents: No. 20 of 67 by population. DeKalb County has an FHA limit of $541,287 for one-unit homes. The typical home value here is $152,700. HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $921 a month; to pay it without spending more than 30% of your income, you need to earn about $17.71 an hour.

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  • Typical home price

    $152,700

    −27% vs. Alabama −54% vs. U.S.

    Half of owner-occupied homes are worth more and half are worth less.

    • DeKalb
    • Alabama
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $921 a month

    −21% vs. Alabama −47% vs. U.S.

    HUD's reference rent for a two-bedroom apartment, with basic utilities.

    • DeKalb
    • Alabama
    • United States

    Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

  • FHA limit 2026, 1 unit

    $541,287

    FHA national floor limit

    The most you can borrow with an FHA loan for a one-unit home here.

    • DeKalb
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    0.32% of value per year

    −16% vs. Alabama −66% vs. U.S.

    $496 a year for the typical owner

    • DeKalb
    • Alabama
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$215,383
5.2% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in DeKalb County today?

The monthly payment on a typical home with FHA would be about $1,188, that is, 28% of the typical household income in DeKalb County. Homes here are worth 27% less than the average across Alabama. Here 78% of households live in a home they own; across Alabama it is 70%. The typical property tax is $496 a year (about 0.32% of home value), lower than in Alabama.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

Only here

What sets DeKalb County apart

  1. DeKalb County has the lowest typical rent in its area: $693, less than any of its 6 neighboring counties; next is Cherokee County ($762).

  2. DeKalb County has the lowest typical home value in its area: $152,700, less than any of its 6 neighboring counties; next is Calhoun County ($156,600).

  3. From 2020 to 2025, home prices in DeKalb County rose 65% on FHFA's index, faster than in Alabama (47%).

  4. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in DeKalb County rose 5.2%; in Alabama, it rose 1.9%.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); FHFA (2025 data); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in DeKalb County

What homes there are in DeKalb County, 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

The detached house is the most common home in DeKalb County: 71% of homes, near the figure in Alabama (69%).

In DeKalb County there are many mobile homes: 22% of homes; in Alabama, 12%.

Year built

By age, homes in DeKalb County look like those in Alabama: the typical year built is 1984.

Much as in Alabama, 70% of homes in DeKalb County have 3 bedrooms or more.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA loan limit for this county is $541,287, and about 96% of owner-occupied homes in DeKalb County are worth less than that.

Monthly rent with utilities

About 75% of rented homes in DeKalb County cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for this county ($921).

With a mortgage

$1,167 a month

Alabama: $1,433 a month

Without a mortgage

$393 a month

Alabama: $447 a month

Owners with a mortgage

40%

Alabama: 54%

In DeKalb County, 40% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,167 a month, against $1,433 in Alabama. Without one it drops to $393.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in DeKalb County rose 44%; in Alabama, it rose 47%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in DeKalb County rose 10%, less than in Alabama (27%).

To compare: typical income in DeKalb County rose 27%; the home, +44%; the rent, +10%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureDeKalb CountyAlabamaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate7.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room 4.4%1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.732.482.53
Drive alone 83%81%69%
Carpool 11%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate0%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%3%
Work from home 4%9%15%
Other means 1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

In DeKalb County, 4.4% of households live with more than one person per room, against 1.7% in Alabama.

More people live in each home here: 2.73 on average, against 2.48 in Alabama.

More people carpool to work in DeKalb County than in Alabama: 11% against 8%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month in DeKalb County?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home of $152,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 28% of the typical household income here, which is $51,204 a year.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in DeKalb County. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $5,345 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,188

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$149,934
Total interest
$215,719
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,579 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,195 a month

    Your payment · 28%

  • Tight

    $1,195 to $1,536 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,536 a month

Compared with the typical household income in DeKalb County ($51,204 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,188
Principal & interest$1,016
Property tax$41
Home insurance$64
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$68

You need at least $5,345 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

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.

Buying a home

Buying a home in DeKalb County

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how DeKalb County compares with Alabama and the country, and what you'd pay each month with four kinds of loans.

How have home prices changed?

According to the FHFA House Price Index, home prices in DeKalb County rose 100% in the 10 years through 2025. FHFA's index follows the price of the same homes over the years.

Period Here Alabama United States
In 2025 +2.6% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +65% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +100% +77% +85%
See each year's change

The index follows the prices of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals on loans bought or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

DeKalb County compared with Alabama and the United States

Home value, rent and household income, side by side. "Typical" is the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • DeKalb $152,700
  • Alabama $209,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical rent a month
  • DeKalb $693
  • Alabama $1,007
  • United States $1,413
Typical household income a year
  • DeKalb $51,204
  • Alabama $63,999
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
DeKalb compared with Alabama and the United States
MeasureHereAlabamaU.S.
Residents72,2695,086,768334,922,499
Typical home value$152,700$209,900$332,700
Typical household income$51,204$63,999$80,734
Typical rent$693$1,007$1,413
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$921$1,170$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$17.71$22.50$33.65
Typical property tax$496$788$3,119
Effective tax rate0.32%0.38%0.94%
Households that own their home78%70%65%
Renters spending 30% or more on rent44%49%51%
FHA limit (1 unit)*$541,287$541,287$541,287

FHA limit: Alabama shows the median of its counties; the United States, the national floor. Download CSV

Four ways to pay for a typical home in DeKalb County

For a typical $152,700 home at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, the county's property tax, an example homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

Loan Monthly payment Down payment Loan amount Rate Mortgage insurance Cash to close Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down $1,188 $5,345 $149,934 7.18% FHA MIP · $68 $9,926 580
Conventional, 5% down $1,160 $7,635 $145,065 7.18% PMI · $73 $12,216 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $932 $30,540 $122,160 7.18% None $35,121 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,073 $22,905 $129,795 8.18% None $27,486 Set by the lender
  • 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.

How much house can I afford? Closing costs

Loan limits

FHA loans in DeKalb County use the national floor limit: it isn't a high-cost area. If the loan you need is above these amounts, it doesn't fit FHA or it becomes a "jumbo" loan.

VA loans. If you have full VA entitlement, VA doesn't cap the loan amount. If you've used part of your entitlement, the calculation uses the county limit ($832,750 for one unit). VA loan limits (va.gov)

USDA loans. They're for homes in eligible rural areas and households with incomes within USDA's limit. Check whether the address and your income qualify on the official site. USDA eligibility (usda.gov)

Home type FHA limit Conforming limit
1 unit $541,287 $832,750
2 units $693,050 $1,066,250
3 units $837,700 $1,288,800
4 units $1,041,125 $1,601,750

Source: HUD, 2026 data · Source: FHFA, 2026 data

Taxes and risks

Property tax and flooding in DeKalb County

Two costs that change a lot from place to place and that a house payment does include: property tax and, in risk zones, flood insurance.

Property tax

In DeKalb County, the typical owner pays $496 a year: about 0.32% of the home's value. That is less than the rest of Alabama and less than the national average.

  • DeKalb 0.32%
  • Alabama 0.38%
  • United States 0.94%

What Alabama publishes Basic homestead exemption (type H-1) (Alabama Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Alabama

Is there a flood risk?

According to FEMA, in DeKalb County 1.6% of homes (510) are in a high-risk flood zone. Of those homes, 7.3% have NFIP flood insurance.

  • A high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area) has a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. (44 CFR 59.1)
  • If the home is in that zone and the loan comes from a regulated lender, federal law requires flood insurance for the life of the loan, in communities that take part in the NFIP. (42 U.S.C. 4012a)
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. (FEMA, FloodSmart)

Source: FEMA, As of August 3, 2026

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Owning a home here

Owning a home in DeKalb County

The natural hazards FEMA measures in DeKalb County, a maintenance plan for your climate and what the trades earn in your area.

Risks to your home

FEMA, National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025)

FEMA rates the natural hazard risk in DeKalb County as relatively low.

FEMA builds that rating from three parts: expected loss, social vulnerability and community resilience.

In DeKalb County, FEMA expects natural hazards to cause $31.6 million in losses a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

For homes and buildings, the costliest hazard here is inland flooding, at about $14.2 million in losses a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. Inland floodingRelatively moderate $14.2 million a year
  2. EarthquakeRelatively low $1.6 million a year
  3. TornadoRelatively moderate $949,856 a year
  4. HurricaneRelatively low $142,431 a year
  5. WildfireRelatively low $128,662 a year

What it means for your home

The ratings are FEMA's own. FEMA says its data is meant for planning and does not replace a local study. Drought is not shown: FEMA counts its loss in crops only.

National Risk Index, version 1.20.0 (December 2025), retrieved November 6, 2026

FEMA notice: This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Climate and upkeep

Department of Energy (PNNL), 2021 IECC zones

DeKalb County is climate zone 3A in the home energy code (IECC): humid, between hot and mixed.

The zone's number says how hot or cold it gets; the letter says how humid: A is moist, B is dry and C is marine.

  • Spring

    • Book the air conditioner's check-up before the heat: ENERGY STAR advises checking the cooling system in the spring, because contractors get busy once summer comes. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Clean and repair the roof gutters. EPA

  • Summer

    • Keep indoor humidity below 60 % (ideally between 30 % and 50 %). A humidity meter is inexpensive and sold at hardware stores. EPA
    • Keep the air conditioner's drip pan clean and its drain line flowing: a plugged drain can cause water damage in the house. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Fall

    • Book the heating check-up in the fall. If it runs on gas or oil, the technician should check the connections: faulty ones are a fire hazard. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Look for drafts at windows and doors: close the window on a piece of paper; if it moves back and forth easily, it needs thicker weather stripping. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Winter

    • Get the house ready for the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping, and learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Ready.gov (FEMA)
    • Seal the air ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, basement or garage with duct mastic or foil tape, then wrap them in insulation. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

All year

  • Check the air filter every month, especially in heavy-use months. If it looks dirty, change it; change it at least every 3 months. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
  • Test the smoke alarms every month and replace their batteries at least once a year. USFA (FEMA)

Each task comes from the official page beside it. The spring air-conditioning and fall heating check-ups are the timing ENERGY STAR advises; the rest is a suggested order.

Climate zones by county, 2021 IECC

What the trades charge here

BLS, wages for May 2025

TradeTypical hourly wage8 in 10 earn between
Electricians$23.54$16.93 and $34.84
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$27.51$17.74 and $35.05
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics$23.15$16.97 and $29.83
Carpenters$21.84$15.19 and $27.73
Painters, construction and maintenance$18.52$14.66 and $26.34
Maintenance and repair workers, general$20.90$13.95 and $29.13

An electrician earns about $23.54 an hour in the Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area, and a plumber, about $27.51.

These are workers' hourly wages, not the price of a job.

BLS publishes no wages for roofers in this area.

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in DeKalb County

The typical rent in DeKalb County is $693 a month. HUD also publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

44% of renter households in DeKalb County spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 22% spend half or more.

Fair market rent by size

To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $699 $13.44 $27,960
1 bedroom $704 $13.54 $28,160
2 bedrooms $921 $17.71 $36,840
3 bedrooms $1,154 $22.19 $46,160
4 bedrooms $1,539 $29.60 $61,560

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Free help in DeKalb County

Programs and counseling in DeKalb County

There is 1 HUD-approved housing counseling agency in DeKalb County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, with rent, or if you've fallen behind on payments.

Official programs for the down payment and loans for buyers. Check which ones you might qualify for with your income and your county.

Wooden houses with porches along a street in Huntsville, Alabama.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Alabama down payment programs

  1. Step Up

    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

    The source does not say whether you must be a first-time buyer. Run by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Repayable Verified November 5, 2026

  2. First Step Mortgage Revenue Bonds

    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

    No first-time requirement. Run by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Repayable Verified November 5, 2026

  3. Affordable Income Subsidy Grant

    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%

    The source does not say whether you must be a first-time buyer. Run by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Grant Verified November 5, 2026

Which programs do I qualify for? See all Alabama programs

Help in Spanish in DeKalb County

None of the 1 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Public housing agencies

They run public housing and Section 8 vouchers (Housing Choice Vouchers) in this county.

  • Housing Authority of the City of Fort Payne Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (256) 845-0424
  • Rainsville Housing Authority Public housing (256) 593-9164

Free legal help

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.

Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Housing counseling nearby

These agencies have an office in DeKalb County. The full list is on the Alabama counselors page. Official HUD list. Confirm hours and fees with the agency before you go.

  • Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama, Inc.

    1481 McCurdy Ave S, Rainsville

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (256) 638-4430
See every agency in Alabama

Places

Cities in DeKalb County

This site has no city pages of DeKalb County. The neighboring counties are below.

See all 2 cities of DeKalb County

Nearby counties

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with DeKalb County.

Read next

Guides that help here

We picked them by this county's numbers: what weighs most here is what's worth understanding first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FHA loan limit in DeKalb County in 2026?

DeKalb County has an FHA limit of $541,287 for a one-unit home. For 2 units it's $693,050, for 3 it's $837,700 and for 4 it's $1,041,125. It's the national floor limit.

What is the conforming loan limit in DeKalb County?

DeKalb County has a conforming limit of $832,750 for one-unit conventional loans in 2026. A bigger loan is a “jumbo” loan.

How much does a typical home cost in DeKalb County?

The typical home value in DeKalb County is $152,700 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across Alabama it's $209,900.

How much does it cost to rent in DeKalb County?

DeKalb County has a typical rent of $693 a month (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $921 (Fiscal year 2027).

How much do you need to earn to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in DeKalb County?

About $17.71 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $36,840 a year, so the fair market rent of $921 stays under 30% of income.

Sources: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027); Income Limits (Fiscal year 2026); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (As of August 3, 2026); National Risk Index (2025 data); IECC climate zones by county (2021 data); Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025 data); Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (2024 data).