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City · 14,927 residents · DeKalb County, Alabama

Fort Payne , Alabama

In Fort Payne, a typical home is worth $157,000 and typical rent is $679 a month. Compared with all of DeKalb County, typical household income is 7% lower and the share of households that own their home is 9 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $157,000

    3% above the county

    25% below Alabama

    • Fort Payne
    • DeKalb
    • Alabama

  • Typical rent

    $679a month

    2% below the county

    33% below Alabama

    • Fort Payne
    • DeKalb
    • Alabama

  • Typical household income

    $47,479a year

    7% below the county

    26% below Alabama

    • Fort Payne
    • DeKalb
    • Alabama

  • Households that own their home

    69%

    9 points below the county

    1 points below Alabama

    • Fort Payne
    • DeKalb
    • Alabama

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$205,185
3.6% more than 12 months ago

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

Fort Payne is in DeKalb 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 DeKalb County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Fort Payne apart

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

  1. Fort Payne has the 7th lowest typical rent of the 117 cities in Alabama with more than 5,000 people ($679).

  2. Nearby, in Rainsville, the typical rent is $519: 24% less than in Fort Payne ($679).

  3. 69% of households in Fort Payne own their home, against 78% in DeKalb County.

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

The homes here

Housing in Fort Payne

What homes there are in Fort Payne, 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 houses, standing on their own, make up 75% of homes here, against 71% in DeKalb County.

Year built

Homes in Fort Payne are older: the typical year built is 1977; in DeKalb County, 1984.

There are fewer big homes in Fort Payne than in DeKalb County: 62% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 70%.

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

With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 96% of owner-occupied homes in Fort Payne sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Fort Payne cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($921): about 76%.

With a mortgage

$1,103 a month

DeKalb County: $1,167 a month

Without a mortgage

$391 a month

DeKalb County: $393 a month

Owners with a mortgage

50%

DeKalb County: 40%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Fort Payne is $1,103 a month, less than in DeKalb County ($1,167); without one, $391.

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 Fort Payne gained value more slowly than in DeKalb County: 26% since 2015–2019, against 44%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Fort Payne rose 14%, more than in DeKalb County (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

MeasureFort PayneDeKalb CountyAlabamaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate7.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate4.4%1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.642.732.482.53
Drive alone 78%83%81%69%
Carpool 12%11%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Work from home 7%4%9%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in DeKalb County, a household in Fort Payne has 2.64 people on average.

In Fort Payne, 78% of workers drive alone to work; in DeKalb County, 83%.

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 Fort Payne?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Fort Payne, worth $157,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 31% of the typical household income in Fort Payne, which is $47,479 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $52,442 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Fort Payne. 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 $5,495 (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

$1,224

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$154,156
Total interest
$221,795
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,651 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,108 a month

  • Tight

    $1,108 to $1,424 a month

    Your payment · 31%

  • Hard

    more than $1,424 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Fort Payne ($47,479 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,224
Principal & interest$1,044
Property tax$45
Home insurance$65
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$69

You need at least $5,495 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

Fort Payne and DeKalb County

Fort Payne is in DeKalb 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).

Fort Payne's own numbers

Typical home value
$157,000
Typical monthly rent
$679
Typical yearly household income
$47,479
Households that own their home
69%
Effective property tax rate
0.34%

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

Numbers for all of DeKalb County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$921
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+65%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.6%

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 DeKalb County.

Everything about DeKalb County

Buying

Buying a home in Fort Payne

A typical home in Fort Payne is worth $157,000: 3% above the county and 25% below Alabama. With the typical household income in Fort Payne ($47,479 a year), a typical home costs 3.3 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.

  • Fort Payne 3.3 years
  • DeKalb 3.0 years
  • Alabama 3.3 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in DeKalb County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in DeKalb County rose 100% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Alabama U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.6% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +65% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +100% +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

Fort Payne next to DeKalb 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
  • Fort Payne $157,000
  • DeKalb $152,700
  • Alabama $209,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Fort Payne $679
  • DeKalb $693
  • Alabama $1,007
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Fort Payne $47,479
  • DeKalb $51,204
  • Alabama $63,999
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Fort Payne next to DeKalb County and Alabama
Measure Fort Payne DeKalb County Alabama U.S.
Typical home value $157,000 $152,700 $209,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $679 $693 $1,007 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $47,479 $51,204 $63,999 $80,734
Households that own their home 69% 78% 70% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $531 $496 $788 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.34% 0.32% 0.38% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 45% 44% 49% 51%

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

For a typical $157,000 home in Fort Payne, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Fort Payne's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,224a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $5,495
    Cash to close
    $10,205
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $69

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,195a month

    Down payment
    $7,850
    Cash to close
    $12,560
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $75

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $961a month

    Down payment
    $31,400
    Cash to close
    $36,110
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,106a month

    Down payment
    $23,550
    Cash to close
    $28,260
    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 Fort Payne and for DeKalb County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Fort Payne

0.34%of the home’s value each year

$531 a year for the typical owner in Fort Payne.

  • Fort Payne 0.34%
  • DeKalb 0.32%
  • Alabama 0.38%

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

Exemptions and deadlines in Alabama

Flood risk in DeKalb County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.6%
510
Of those, with NFIP insurance
7.3%
County Alabama U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.6% 3.2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 7.3% 29% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Fort Payne

Typical rent in Fort Payne is $679 a month: 2% below the county. In Fort Payne, 45% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of DeKalb County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($921 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $17.71 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of DeKalb 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 $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

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Fort Payne

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Fort Payne has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $920 in 35968 to $940 in 35967.

1 of the 2 is above the fair market rent for DeKalb County ($921).

  • 35967 $940$1,180
  • 35968 $920$1,150

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Fort Payne 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?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Fort Payne

HUD lists 8 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Fort Payne. These are the largest.

  • Williams Ave. Apts. 1310 Forest Ave NW, Fort Payne 35967 191 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Fort Payne · Average payment: $304 a month · Average wait: 6 months · Homes at several sites (256) 845-0424
  • Lookout Courts 2004 Watkins Ave NE, Fort Payne 35967 100 homes, 84 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Fort Payne · Average payment: $280 a month · Average wait: 7 months (256) 845-0424
  • Deerfield Apartments 4001 Williams Ave NE, Fort Payne 35967 64 low-income homes · For families (256) 845-5450
  • North Pointe 601 Greenhill Blvd NW, Fort Payne 35967 56 low-income homes · 2 bd: 42 · 3 bd: 14 · In service since 2009 · For people with disabilities, families
  • Spring Grove Apartments 500 Turner Ave SE, Fort Payne 35967 53 low-income homes · For older adults (256) 845-6875

See all 17 buildings in DeKalb County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Fort Payne

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 DeKalb County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A man leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Fort Payne

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Fort Payne or DeKalb County. The ones below are statewide in Alabama: they work in Fort Payne 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 Fort Payne

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

  • Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama, Inc.

    1481 McCurdy Ave S, Rainsville · 10 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (256) 638-4430

  • Family Services Center, Inc.

    520 Madison St SE, Huntsville · 54 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (256) 551-1610

  • Community Action Partnership, Huntsville/Madison & Limestone Counties, Inc

    3516 Stringfield Rd NW, Huntsville · 57 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 7 more
    (256) 851-9800

Every agency in DeKalb County All counseling agencies in Alabama

Help in Spanish near Fort Payne

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 Fort Payne

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

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

3 other authorities have an office in DeKalb County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in DeKalb County

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

Everything about DeKalb County Housing in Alabama

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Fort Payne, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If DeKalb 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 Fort Payne.

All guides
A mother and her daughters smile together on a mountain trail with a snowy peak behind them.

Questions

Housing questions about Fort Payne

Short answers with the numbers for Fort Payne and all of DeKalb 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 Fort Payne?

The typical home value in Fort Payne is $157,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in DeKalb County it is $152,700.

How much does it cost to rent in Fort Payne?

Typical rent in Fort Payne is $679 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in DeKalb County is $921.

What is the FHA loan limit in Fort Payne?

Fort Payne uses the FHA limit for all of DeKalb 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 Fort Payne?

The typical homeowner in Fort Payne pays $531 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.34% of the home’s value; in DeKalb County, the rate is 0.32%.

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

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in DeKalb County. 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).