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City · 9,742 residents · Jefferson County, Alabama

Forestdale , Alabama

In Forestdale, a typical home is worth $164,000 and typical rent is $1,203 a month. Compared with all of Jefferson County, the typical home value is 32% lower and the share of households that own their home is 5 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $164,000

    32% below the county

    22% below Alabama

    • Forestdale
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

  • Typical rent

    $1,203a month

    About the same as the county

    19% above Alabama

    • Forestdale
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

  • Typical household income

    $66,569a year

    About the same as the county

    4% above Alabama

    • Forestdale
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

  • Households that own their home

    69%

    5 points above the county

    1 points below Alabama

    • Forestdale
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$170,816
3.3% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,304 a month

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

Forestdale is in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Forestdale apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Tarrant, the typical home value is $120,100: 27% less than in Forestdale ($164,000).

  2. The typical home in Forestdale is worth $164,000, 32% less than in Jefferson County as a whole ($240,000).

  3. Nearby, in Tarrant, the typical rent is $985: 18% less than in Forestdale ($1,203).

  4. 69% of households in Forestdale own their home, against 64% in Jefferson County.

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

The homes here

Housing in Forestdale

What homes there are in Forestdale, 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 rules in Forestdale: 88% of homes, more than in Jefferson County (69%).

Year built

In Forestdale, half of the homes were built before 1971; in Jefferson County, before 1975.

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
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,233 a month

Jefferson County: $1,619 a month

Without a mortgage

$479 a month

Jefferson County: $533 a month

Owners with a mortgage

65%

Jefferson County: 60%

In Forestdale, 65% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,233 a month, against $1,619 in Jefferson County. Without one it drops to $479.

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

Homes in Forestdale gained value more slowly than in Jefferson County: 34% since 2015–2019, against 51%.

Rents in Forestdale rose faster than in Jefferson County: 52% since 2015–2019, against 33%.

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

MeasureForestdaleJefferson CountyAlabamaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate7.0%7.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.2%1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.6%1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.432.402.482.53
Drive alone 87%77%81%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate8%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%0%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%1%3%
Work from home 6%11%9%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

A household in Forestdale has 2.43 people on average, about the same as in Jefferson County (2.40).

In Forestdale, 87% of workers drive alone to work; in Jefferson County, 77%.

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 for a home in Forestdale?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Forestdale, worth $164,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 23% of the typical household income in Forestdale, which is $66,569 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Jefferson County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Forestdale. 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 $5,740 (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

$1,295

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$161,030
Total interest
$231,684
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,770 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,553 a month

    Your payment · 23%

  • Tight

    $1,553 to $1,997 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,997 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Forestdale ($66,569 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,295
Principal & interest$1,091
Property tax$63
Home insurance$68
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$73

You need at least $5,740 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.

The city and its county

Forestdale and Jefferson County

Forestdale is in Jefferson 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).

Forestdale's own numbers

Typical home value
$164,000
Typical monthly rent
$1,203
Typical yearly household income
$66,569
Households that own their home
69%
Effective property tax rate
0.46%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Jefferson 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)
+38%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.3%

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 Jefferson County.

Everything about Jefferson County

Buying

Buying a home in Forestdale

A typical home in Forestdale is worth $164,000: 32% below the county and 22% below Alabama. With the typical household income in Forestdale ($66,569 a year), a typical home costs 2.5 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.

  • Forestdale 2.5 years
  • Jefferson 3.6 years
  • Alabama 3.3 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Jefferson County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Jefferson County rose 73% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Jefferson County.

Period County Alabama U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.2% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +38% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +73% +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

Forestdale next to Jefferson 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
  • Forestdale $164,000
  • Jefferson $240,000
  • Alabama $209,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Forestdale $1,203
  • Jefferson $1,193
  • Alabama $1,007
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Forestdale $66,569
  • Jefferson $66,388
  • Alabama $63,999
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Forestdale next to Jefferson County and Alabama
Measure Forestdale Jefferson County Alabama U.S.
Typical home value $164,000 $240,000 $209,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,203 $1,193 $1,007 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $66,569 $66,388 $63,999 $80,734
Households that own their home 69% 64% 70% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $759 $1,409 $788 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.46% 0.59% 0.38% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 48% 54% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Jefferson 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 Forestdale

For a typical $164,000 home in Forestdale, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Forestdale's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,295a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $5,740
    Cash to close
    $10,660
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $73

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,265a month

    Down payment
    $8,200
    Cash to close
    $13,120
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $78

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,020a month

    Down payment
    $32,800
    Cash to close
    $37,720
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,172a month

    Down payment
    $24,600
    Cash to close
    $29,520
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

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.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Forestdale and for Jefferson County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Forestdale

0.46%of the home’s value each year

$759 a year for the typical owner in Forestdale.

  • Forestdale 0.46%
  • Jefferson 0.59%
  • Alabama 0.38%

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

Exemptions and deadlines in Alabama

Flood risk in Jefferson County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Jefferson County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.3%
5,592
Of those, with NFIP insurance
13%
County Alabama U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.3% 3.2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 13% 29% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Forestdale

Typical rent in Forestdale is $1,203 a month: about the same as the county. In Forestdale, 48% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Jefferson 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.

HUD fair market rent for all of Jefferson County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

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 Forestdale

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Forestdale is in ZIP code 35214.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,210: $165 less than the fair market rent for Jefferson County ($1,375).

  • 35214 $1,210$1,520

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Forestdale 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 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Forestdale

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 are 6 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Jefferson County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.

A pregnant woman reads paperwork on the sofa while the grandmother plays with the girl on the floor.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Forestdale

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Forestdale or Jefferson County. The ones below are statewide in Alabama: they work in Forestdale the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Alabama

  • Step Up

    Statewide in Alabama

    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).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • First Step Mortgage Revenue Bonds

    Statewide in Alabama

    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).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • Affordable Income Subsidy Grant

    Statewide in Alabama

    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).

    Grant

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Forestdale

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Forestdale, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Birmingham Urban League, Inc.

    1229 3rd Ave N, Birmingham · 6 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (205) 326-0162

  • Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc.

    601 19th St N, Birmingham · 6 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 5 more
    (205) 328-4292

  • Operation Hope- Birmingham Al

    2100 Park Pl, Birmingham · 6 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (205) 478-0557

Every agency in Jefferson County All counseling agencies in Alabama

Help in Spanish near Forestdale

None of the 3 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.

Housing authorities of Forestdale

HUD’s record names them for Forestdale or Jefferson County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Jefferson County Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (205) 849-0123

5 other authorities have an office in Jefferson County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Jefferson County

These cities are also in Jefferson County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Jefferson County Housing in Alabama
See 9 more cities in Jefferson County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Forestdale, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Jefferson County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Forestdale.

All guides
Three women of one family lean in together to stir the pan.

Questions

Housing questions about Forestdale

Short answers with the numbers for Forestdale and all of Jefferson 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 Forestdale?

The typical home value in Forestdale is $164,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Jefferson County it is $240,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Forestdale?

Typical rent in Forestdale is $1,203 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Jefferson County is $1,375.

What is the FHA loan limit in Forestdale?

Forestdale uses the FHA limit for all of Jefferson 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 Forestdale?

The typical homeowner in Forestdale pays $759 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.46% of the home’s value; in Jefferson County, the rate is 0.59%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Forestdale?

There are 6 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Jefferson County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).