In Gadsden, a typical home is worth $116,800 and typical rent is $808 a month. Compared with all of Etowah County, the typical home value is 30% lower, typical household income is 26% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 18 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $104,072 to $115,329.
Typical rent
$882a month
Typical rent from Zillow, June 2026 to September 2026: from $853 to $882.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Gadsden is in Etowah 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 Etowah County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
56% of households in Gadsden own their home, against 74% in Etowah County.
2
The typical home in Gadsden is worth $116,800,30% less than in Etowah County as a whole ($167,100).
3
The typical household income in Gadsden is $40,345,26% less than in Etowah County as a whole ($54,563).
4
Nearby, in Boaz, the typical rent is $663: 18% less than in Gadsden ($808).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Gadsden
What homes there are in Gadsden, 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
Gadsden
Etowah County
Alabama
United States
Kind of home: Gadsden and its comparisons
Measure
Gadsden
Etowah County
Alabama
United States
Detached house
75%
79%
69%
61%
Attached house
2%
1%
2%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
8%
4%
5%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
12%
7%
12%
19%
Mobile home
3%
9%
12%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
The detached house is still the most common home in Gadsden, but it weighs less than in Etowah County: 75% against 79%.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Gadsden
Etowah County
Alabama
United States
Year built: Gadsden and its comparisons
Measure
Gadsden
Etowah County
Alabama
United States
Before 1960
51%
28%
16%
26%
1960–1979
30%
29%
26%
24%
1980–1999
10%
24%
29%
25%
2000–2009
4%
12%
15%
14%
2010 or later
5%
7%
13%
11%
Homes in Gadsden are older: the typical year built is 1959; in Etowah County, 1975.
There are fewer big homes in Gadsden than in Etowah County: 54% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 69%.
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 $100K44%
$100K–$200K33%
$200K–$300K14%
$300K–$500K5%
$500K–$750K3%
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Gadsden and its comparisons
Measure
Gadsden
Under $100K
44%
$100K–$200K
33%
$200K–$300K
14%
$300K–$500K
5%
$500K–$750K
3%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
By price, most homes in Gadsden sit under the FHA limit for Etowah County ($541,287): about 96%.
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $50017%
$500–$99958%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $975
$1,000–$1,49921%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Gadsden and its comparisons
Measure
Gadsden
Under $500
17%
$500–$999
58%
$1,000–$1,499
21%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
By rent, most homes in Gadsden cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($975): about 73%.
With a mortgage
$1,176 a month
Etowah County: $1,284 a month
Without a mortgage
$416 a month
Etowah County: $439 a month
Owners with a mortgage
39%
Etowah County: 45%
In Gadsden, 39% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,176 a month, against $1,284 in Etowah County. Without one it drops to $416.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Gadsden+59%
Etowah County+47%
Alabama+47%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Gadsden+25%
Etowah County+27%
Alabama+27%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Gadsden+24%
Etowah County+22%
Alabama+27%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Gadsden and its comparisons
Measure
Gadsden
Etowah County
Alabama
United States
Typical home value
+59%
+47%
+47%
+53%
Typical rent
+25%
+27%
+27%
+33%
Typical household income
+24%
+22%
+27%
+29%
Since 2015–2019, homes in Gadsden gained value faster than in Etowah County: 59% against 47%.
The typical rent in Gadsden rose 25% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Etowah County (27%).
The typical household income in Gadsden rose 24% over that time; home values changed +59% and rent +25%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Gadsden and its comparisons
Measure
Gadsden
Etowah County
Alabama
United States
Rental vacancy
7.4%
6.3%
7.2%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
1.5%
1.1%
0.9%
More than one person per room
4.3%
2.0%
1.7%
3.4%
People per household
2.53
2.58
2.48
2.53
Drive alone
82%
87%
81%
69%
Carpool
11%
7%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
3%
Work from home
4%
4%
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
There is more rental housing open in Gadsden: 7.4% is empty and offered for rent, against 6.3% in Etowah County.
More households are short on space in Gadsden: 4.3% have more than one person per room; in Etowah County, 2.0%.
A household in Gadsden has 2.53 people on average, about the same as in Etowah County (2.58).
In Gadsden, 11% of workers share a car to get to work; in Etowah County, 7%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Gadsden?
A typical home is within reach of the typical income
We start with a typical home in Gadsden, worth $116,800, 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 Gadsden, which is $40,345 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Etowah 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 Gadsden. 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 $4,088 (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
$923
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$114,684
Total interest
$165,004
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $1,972 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $941 a month
Your payment · 27%
Tight
$941 to $1,210 a month
Hard
more than $1,210 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Gadsden ($40,345 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$777
Property tax
$46
Home insurance
$49
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$52
You need at least $4,088 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 $923; principal and interest $777.
The city and its county
Gadsden and Etowah County
Gadsden is in Etowah 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).
Gadsden
Map of Etowah County, Alabama, with Gadsden marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Gadsden
Etowah County
Other cities with a page
Gadsden's own numbers
Typical home value
$116,800
Typical monthly rent
$808
Typical yearly household income
$40,345
Households that own their home
56%
Effective property tax rate
0.47%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Etowah County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$975
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+54%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.7%
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 Etowah County.
A typical home in Gadsden is worth $116,800: 30% below the county and 44% below Alabama. With the typical household income in Gadsden ($40,345 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.
Gadsden2.9 years
Etowah3.1 years
Alabama3.3 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Etowah County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Etowah County rose 74% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Etowah County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Etowah County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +1.0% +1.0% 2016
2017: +0.2% +0.2% 2017
2018: +3.9% +3.9% 2018
2019: +4.1% +4.1% 2019
2020: +3.3% +3.3% 2020
2021: +10.5% +10.5% 2021
2022: +17.0% +17.0% 2022
2023: +7.1% +7.1% 2023
2024: +7.4% +7.4% 2024
2025: +3.5% +3.5% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Etowah County, Alabama and the United States
Period
County
Alabama
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+3.5%
+2.5%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+54%
+47%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+74%
+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
Gadsden next to Etowah 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
Gadsden$116,800
Etowah$167,100
Alabama$209,900
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Gadsden$808
Etowah$847
Alabama$1,007
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Gadsden$40,345
Etowah$54,563
Alabama$63,999
United States$80,734
See the full table
Gadsden next to Etowah County and Alabama
Measure
Gadsden
Etowah County
Alabama
U.S.
Typical home value
$116,800 ▼30% below the county
$167,100
$209,900
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$808 ▼5% below the county
$847
$1,007
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$40,345 ▼26% below the county
$54,563
$63,999
$80,734
Households that own their home
56% ▼18 points below the county
74%
70%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$554 ▼14% below the county
$645
$788
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.47% ▲0.08 points above the county
0.39%
0.38%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
51% ▲3 points above the county
48%
49%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Etowah 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 Gadsden
For a typical $116,800 home in Gadsden, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Gadsden's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$923a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$4,088
Cash to close
$7,592
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $52
Conventional, 5% down$902a month
Down payment
$5,840
Cash to close
$9,344
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $55
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$727a month
Down payment
$23,360
Cash to close
$26,864
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$835a month
Down payment
$17,520
Cash to close
$21,024
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Gadsden
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$923
$4,088
$114,684
7.18%
FHA MIP · $52
$7,592
580
Conventional, 5% down
$902
$5,840
$110,960
7.18%
PMI · $55
$9,344
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$727
$23,360
$93,440
7.18%
None
$26,864
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$835
$17,520
$99,280
8.18%
None
$21,024
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 Gadsden is $808 a month: 5% below the county. In Gadsden, 51% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Etowah County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($975 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $18.75 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 Etowah County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$679
$13.06
$27,160
1 bedroom
$830
$15.96
$33,200
2 bedrooms
$975
$18.75
$39,000
3 bedrooms
$1,235
$23.75
$49,400
4 bedrooms
$1,397
$26.87
$55,880
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 Gadsden
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Gadsden has 3 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it runs from $940 in 35904 to $990 in 35903.
1 of the 3 is above the fair market rent for Etowah County ($975).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each of the 3 ZIP codes of Gadsden, beside the one for Etowah County. For 2 bedrooms it runs from $940 in 35904 to $990 in 35903. 1 of the 3 is above the fair market rent for Etowah County ($975).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each ZIP code
Each line is one ZIP code: in color, those above the county's fair market rent; in gray, the rest.
County: $975
Lowest: $940 (35904)Highest: $990 (35903)
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Gadsden, fiscal year 2027.
35901
$670
$820
$960
$1,220
$1,380
35903
$690
$840
$990
$1,250
$1,420
35904
$650
$800
$940
$1,190
$1,350
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
35901 $960$1,220
35903 $990$1,250
35904 $940$1,190
3 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Gadsden 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 19 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Gadsden. These are the largest.
Colley Homes424A N 6th St, Gadsden 35901236 homes, 235 low-income · Run by Greater Gadsden · Average payment: $324 a month · Average wait: 4 months(256) 547-2501
Emma Sansom Homes213A N 21st St, Gadsden 35904220 homes, 219 low-income · Run by Greater Gadsden · Average payment: $330 a month · Average wait: 2 months(256) 547-2501
Carver Village1110A Jacksonville Ct, Gadsden 35901160 low-income homes · Run by Greater Gadsden · Average payment: $331 a month · Average wait: 3 months(256) 547-2501
Campbell Court101 Campbell Ct, Gadsden 35903150 low-income homes · Run by Greater Gadsden · Average payment: $370 a month · Average wait: 5 months(256) 547-2501
Gateway Village606 S 14th St, Gadsden 35901106 low-income homes · Run by Greater Gadsden · Average payment: $304 a month · Average wait: 2 months(256) 547-2501
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 Etowah 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 Gadsden or Etowah County. The ones below are statewide in Alabama: they work in Gadsden 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 Gadsden or Etowah 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 Gadsden and all of Etowah 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 Gadsden?
The typical home value in Gadsden is $116,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Etowah County it is $167,100.
How much does it cost to rent in Gadsden?
Typical rent in Gadsden is $808 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Etowah County is $975.
What is the FHA loan limit in Gadsden?
Gadsden uses the FHA limit for all of Etowah 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 Gadsden?
The typical homeowner in Gadsden pays $554 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.47% of the home’s value; in Etowah County, the rate is 0.39%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Gadsden?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Etowah County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
