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City · 5,877 residents · St. Clair County, Alabama

Margaret , Alabama

In Margaret, a typical home is worth $230,900. Compared with all of St. Clair County, typical household income is 31% higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $230,900

    2% above the county

    10% above Alabama

    • Margaret
    • St. Clair
    • Alabama

  • Typical household income

    $101,802a year

    31% above the county

    59% above Alabama

    • Margaret
    • St. Clair
    • Alabama

  • Households that own their home

    87%

    5 points above the county

    17 points above Alabama

    • Margaret
    • St. Clair
    • Alabama

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical rent
$1,660 a month
2.1% more than 12 months ago

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

Margaret is in St. Clair 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 St. Clair County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Margaret apart

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

  1. The typical household income in Margaret is $101,802, 31% more than in St. Clair County as a whole ($77,463).

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

The homes here

Housing in Margaret

What homes there are in Margaret, 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 Margaret: 74% of homes, near the figure in St. Clair County (72%).

In Margaret there are many mobile homes: 26% of homes; in St. Clair County, 22%.

Year built

The typical home in Margaret was built in 2008, 10 years after the typical one in St. Clair 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
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,548 a month

St. Clair County: $1,516 a month

Without a mortgage

$429 a month

St. Clair County: $443 a month

Owners with a mortgage

75%

St. Clair County: 58%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Margaret is $1,548 a month, near the figure in St. Clair County ($1,516).

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 Margaret rose 51%; in St. Clair County, it rose 46%.

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

MeasureMargaretSt. Clair 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 estimate1.9%1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.842.632.482.53
Drive alone 84%80%81%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate7%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Work from home 12%12%9%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate30 to 39 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Margaret has 2.84 people, more than in St. Clair County (2.63).

To get to work, 84% of workers in Margaret drive alone; in St. Clair County, 80%.

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 Margaret?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Margaret, worth $230,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 21% of the typical household income in Margaret, which is $101,802 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Margaret. 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 $8,082 (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

$1,800

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$226,717
Total interest
$326,193
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,899 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,375 a month

    Your payment · 21%

  • Tight

    $2,375 to $3,054 a month

  • Hard

    more than $3,054 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Margaret ($101,802 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,800
Principal & interest$1,536
Property tax$65
Home insurance$96
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$102

You need at least $8,082 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

Margaret and St. Clair County

Margaret is in St. Clair 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).

Margaret's own numbers

Typical home value
$230,900
Typical yearly household income
$101,802
Households that own their home
87%
Effective property tax rate
0.34%

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

Numbers for all of St. Clair 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)
+44%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2%

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 St. Clair County.

Everything about St. Clair County

Buying

Buying a home in Margaret

A typical home in Margaret is worth $230,900: 2% above the county and 10% above Alabama. With the typical household income in Margaret ($101,802 a year), a typical home costs 2.3 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.

  • Margaret 2.3 years
  • St. Clair 2.9 years
  • Alabama 3.3 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in St. Clair County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in St. Clair County rose 71% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Alabama U.S.
Last year (2025) +0.6% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +44% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +71% +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

Margaret next to St. Clair 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
  • Margaret $230,900
  • St. Clair $226,300
  • Alabama $209,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical yearly household income
  • Margaret $101,802
  • St. Clair $77,463
  • Alabama $63,999
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Margaret next to St. Clair County and Alabama
Measure Margaret St. Clair County Alabama U.S.
Typical home value $230,900 $226,300 $209,900 $332,700
Typical yearly household income $101,802 $77,463 $63,999 $80,734
Households that own their home 87% 83% 70% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $776 $724 $788 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.34% 0.32% 0.38% 0.94%

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

For a typical $230,900 home in Margaret, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Margaret's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,800a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,082
    Cash to close
    $15,009
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $102

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,757a month

    Down payment
    $11,545
    Cash to close
    $18,472
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $110

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,413a month

    Down payment
    $46,180
    Cash to close
    $53,107
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,626a month

    Down payment
    $34,635
    Cash to close
    $41,562
    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 Margaret and for St. Clair County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Margaret

0.34%of the home’s value each year

$776 a year for the typical owner in Margaret.

  • Margaret 0.34%
  • St. Clair 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 St. Clair County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
2%
652
Of those, with NFIP insurance
39%
County Alabama U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2% 3.2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 39% 29% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Margaret

The Census Bureau publishes no typical rent for Margaret. Below are the fair market rents for St. Clair County.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of St. Clair 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 St. Clair 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 Margaret

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

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,250 in all of them.

None is above the fair market rent for St. Clair County ($1,375).

  • 35112 $1,250$1,570
  • 35120 $1,250$1,570

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

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 St. Clair County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man smiles on a bench outside his apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Margaret

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

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

  • United Way of Central Alabama, Inc.

    3600 8th Ave S, Birmingham · 21 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 9 more
    (205) 458-8950

  • Operation Hope- Birmingham Al

    2100 Park Pl, Birmingham · 22 miles away

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

  • Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc.

    601 19th St N, Birmingham · 23 miles away

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

All counseling agencies in Alabama

Help in Spanish near Margaret

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 Margaret

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in St. Clair County is named for Margaret or St. Clair County.

2 other authorities have an office in St. Clair County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in St. Clair County

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

Everything about St. Clair County Housing in Alabama

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If St. Clair 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 Margaret.

All guides
Three women of one family talk as they cook vegetables in the kitchen.

Questions

Housing questions about Margaret

Short answers with the numbers for Margaret and all of St. Clair 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 Margaret?

The typical home value in Margaret is $230,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in St. Clair County it is $226,300.

What is the FHA loan limit in Margaret?

Margaret uses the FHA limit for all of St. Clair 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 Margaret?

The typical homeowner in Margaret pays $776 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.34% of the home’s value; in St. Clair County, the rate is 0.32%.

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

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in St. Clair County; the nearest ones are on this page. 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).