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City · 222,791 residents · Madison County, Alabama

Huntsville , Alabama

In Huntsville, a typical home is worth $293,600 and typical rent is $1,171 a month. Compared with all of Madison County, typical household income is 14% lower and the share of households that own their home is 10 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $293,600

    About the same as the county

    40% above Alabama

    • Huntsville
    • Madison
    • Alabama

  • Typical rent

    $1,171a month

    3% below the county

    16% above Alabama

    • Huntsville
    • Madison
    • Alabama

  • Typical household income

    $74,714a year

    14% below the county

    17% above Alabama

    • Huntsville
    • Madison
    • Alabama

  • Households that own their home

    58%

    10 points below the county

    12 points below Alabama

    • Huntsville
    • Madison
    • Alabama

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$286,952
1.4% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,335 a month
2.7% more than 12 months ago

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

Huntsville is in Madison 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 Madison County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Huntsville apart

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

  1. Nearby, in Athens, the typical rent is $899: 23% less than in Huntsville ($1,171).

  2. 58% of households in Huntsville own their home, against 68% in Madison County.

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

The homes here

Housing in Huntsville

What homes there are in Huntsville, 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

In Huntsville, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Madison County, 7.

Year built

Homes in Huntsville are older: the typical year built is 1985; in Madison County, 1992.

In Huntsville, 15% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 64% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 73% in Madison County.

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

About 84% of owner-occupied homes in Huntsville are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Madison County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Madison County is $1,341: about 63% of rents in Huntsville are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,573 a month

Madison County: $1,562 a month

Without a mortgage

$481 a month

Madison County: $480 a month

Owners with a mortgage

60%

Madison County: 63%

In Huntsville, 60% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,573 a month, about the same as in Madison County.

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

The typical home value in Huntsville rose 61% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Madison County (61%).

Rents in Huntsville rose at about the same pace as in Madison County: 42% since 2015–2019, against 41%.

The typical household income in Huntsville rose 35%: less than home values (+61%) and rent (+42%).

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

MeasureHuntsvilleMadison CountyAlabamaUnited States
Rental vacancy 7.4%6.5%7.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy 1.1%0.8%1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room 1.5%1.3%1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.222.392.482.53
Drive alone 76%76%81%69%
Carpool 6%7%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0%3%
Walk or bike 1%1%1%3%
Work from home 15%15%9%15%
Other means 2%1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

In Huntsville, the rental vacancy rate is 7.4%, about the same as in Madison County.

Much as in Madison County, 1.5% of households in Huntsville have more than one person per room.

Households in Huntsville are smaller: 2.22 people on average; in Madison County, 2.39.

To get to work, 76% of workers in Huntsville drive alone; in Madison County, 76%.

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 Huntsville?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Huntsville, worth $293,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 37% of the typical household income in Huntsville, which is $74,714 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $99,328 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Huntsville. 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 $10,276 (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

$2,318

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$288,282
Total interest
$414,770
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,958 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,743 a month

  • Tight

    $1,743 to $2,241 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,241 a month

    Your payment · 37%

Compared with the typical household income in Huntsville ($74,714 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,318
Principal & interest$1,953
Property tax$113
Home insurance$122
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$130

You need at least $10,276 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

Huntsville and Madison County

Huntsville is in Madison 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).

Huntsville's own numbers

Typical home value
$293,600
Typical monthly rent
$1,171
Typical yearly household income
$74,714
Households that own their home
58%
Effective property tax rate
0.46%

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

Numbers for all of Madison County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,341
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+53%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.3%

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 Madison County.

Everything about Madison County

Buying

Buying a home in Huntsville

A typical home in Huntsville is worth $293,600: about the same as the county and 40% above Alabama. With the typical household income in Huntsville ($74,714 a year), a typical home costs 3.9 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.

  • Huntsville 3.9 years
  • Madison 3.5 years
  • Alabama 3.3 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Madison County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Madison County rose 93% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Alabama U.S.
Last year (2025) +1.2% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +53% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +93% +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

Huntsville next to Madison 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
  • Huntsville $293,600
  • Madison $299,200
  • Alabama $209,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Huntsville $1,171
  • Madison $1,209
  • Alabama $1,007
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Huntsville $74,714
  • Madison $86,499
  • Alabama $63,999
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Huntsville next to Madison County and Alabama
Measure Huntsville Madison County Alabama U.S.
Typical home value $293,600 $299,200 $209,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,171 $1,209 $1,007 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $74,714 $86,499 $63,999 $80,734
Households that own their home 58% 68% 70% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,345 $1,185 $788 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.46% 0.4% 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 Madison 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 Huntsville

For a typical $293,600 home in Huntsville, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Huntsville's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,318a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $10,276
    Cash to close
    $19,084
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $130

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,264a month

    Down payment
    $14,680
    Cash to close
    $23,488
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $139

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,826a month

    Down payment
    $58,720
    Cash to close
    $67,528
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,097a month

    Down payment
    $44,040
    Cash to close
    $52,848
    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 Huntsville and for Madison County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Huntsville

0.46%of the home’s value each year

$1,345 a year for the typical owner in Huntsville.

  • Huntsville 0.46%
  • Madison 0.4%
  • Alabama 0.38%

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

Exemptions and deadlines in Alabama

Flood risk in Madison County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
3.3%
4,593
Of those, with NFIP insurance
38%
County Alabama U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 3.3% 3.2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 38% 29% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Huntsville

Typical rent in Huntsville is $1,171 a month: 3% below the county. In Huntsville, 45% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Madison County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,341 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $25.79 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Madison 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 $1,119 $21.52 $44,760
1 bedroom $1,177 $22.63 $47,080
2 bedrooms $1,341 $25.79 $53,640
3 bedrooms $1,735 $33.37 $69,400
4 bedrooms $2,241 $43.10 $89,640

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 Huntsville

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Huntsville has 9 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,180 in 35805 to $2,010 in 35756.

5 of the 9 are above the fair market rent for Madison County ($1,341).

  • 35756 $2,010$2,600
  • 35801 $1,450$1,880
  • 35802 $1,290$1,670
  • 35805 $1,180$1,530
  • 35806 $1,560$2,020
  • 35810 $1,250$1,620
  • 35816 $1,180$1,530
  • 35824 $1,530$1,980
  • 35896 $1,380$1,780

4 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Huntsville 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 Huntsville

HUD lists 42 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Huntsville. These are the largest.

  • Northwoods 2904A Klondike Ave NW, Huntsville 35816 447 homes, 443 low-income · Run by The Housing Authority of the City of Huntsville · Average payment: $340 a month · Average wait: 27 months (256) 539-0774
  • Garden Cove Apts 3315 Dunn Dr SW, Huntsville 35805 199 low-income homes · 1 bd: 47 · 2 bd: 100 · 3 bd: 52 · In service since 2008 · For people with disabilities, families
  • Lincoln 201A Webster Dr NW, Huntsville 35801 194 homes, 193 low-income · Run by The Housing Authority of the City of Huntsville · Average payment: $299 a month · Average wait: 21 months (256) 539-0774
  • Lakeshore Crossing Apts 6300 Rime Village Dr NW, Huntsville 35806 160 low-income homes · 1 bd: 24 · 2 bd: 96 · 3 bd: 40 · In service since 2004 · For families
  • Valley Garden Apartments II 2516 12th St SW, Huntsville 35805 144 low-income homes · For families (256) 536-3743

See all 51 buildings in Madison County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Huntsville

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 3 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Madison County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A grandmother smiles, seated at home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Huntsville

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

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

  • Nid-Hca Madison

    1525 Perimeter Pkwy NW, Huntsville · 4 miles away

    • Budget and credit workshops
    • Home improvement and repairs
    • and 5 more
    (256) 850-3132

  • Family Services Center, Inc.

    520 Madison St SE, Huntsville · 6 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 · 7 miles away

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

Every agency in Madison County All counseling agencies in Alabama

Help in Spanish near Huntsville

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 Huntsville

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

  • The Housing Authority of the City of Huntsville Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (256) 539-0774

One other authority has an office in Madison County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Madison County

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

Everything about Madison County Housing in Alabama

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If Madison 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 Huntsville.

All guides
A mother holds hands with her two daughters on the beach at sunset.

Questions

Housing questions about Huntsville

Short answers with the numbers for Huntsville and all of Madison 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 Huntsville?

The typical home value in Huntsville is $293,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Madison County it is $299,200.

How much does it cost to rent in Huntsville?

Typical rent in Huntsville is $1,171 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Madison County is $1,341.

What is the FHA loan limit in Huntsville?

Huntsville uses the FHA limit for all of Madison 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 Huntsville?

The typical homeowner in Huntsville pays $1,345 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.46% of the home’s value; in Madison County, the rate is 0.4%.

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

There are 3 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Madison 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).