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City · 22,029 residents · Jefferson County, Alabama

Mountain Brook , Alabama

In Mountain Brook, a typical home is worth $916,300 and typical rent is $1,456 a month. Compared with all of Jefferson County, the typical home value is 282% higher, typical household income is 203% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 26 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $916,300

    282% above the county

    337% above Alabama

    • Mountain Brook
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

  • Typical rent

    $1,456a month

    22% above the county

    45% above Alabama

    • Mountain Brook
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

  • Typical household income

    $201,479a year

    203% above the county

    215% above Alabama

    • Mountain Brook
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

  • Households that own their home

    90%

    26 points above the county

    20 points above Alabama

    • Mountain Brook
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$1,054,515
8.7% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,543 a month

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

Mountain Brook 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 Mountain Brook apart

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

  1. Mountain Brook has the highest typical household income of the 120 cities in Alabama with more than 5,000 people: $201,479.

  2. Mountain Brook has the highest typical home value of the 120 cities in Alabama with more than 5,000 people: $916,300.

  3. 90% of households in Mountain Brook own their home, against 64% in Jefferson County.

  4. Nearby, in Birmingham, the typical home value is $158,800: 83% less than in Mountain Brook ($916,300).

  5. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Mountain Brook rose 8.7%; in Alabama, it rose 1.9%.

  6. Nearby, in Birmingham, the typical rent is $1,107: 24% less than in Mountain Brook ($1,456).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Mountain Brook

What homes there are in Mountain Brook, 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 Mountain Brook: 85% of homes, more than in Jefferson County (69%).

Year built

Homes in Mountain Brook are older: the typical year built is 1964; in Jefferson County, 1975.

Homes in Mountain Brook are bigger: 87% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Jefferson County, 64%.

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

$3,726 a month

Jefferson County: $1,619 a month

Owners with a mortgage

57%

Jefferson County: 60%

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 Mountain Brook rose 46%; in Jefferson County, it rose 51%.

Rent in Mountain Brook moved so little since 2015–2019 that the Census cannot say whether it rose or fell.

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

MeasureMountain BrookJefferson 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 2.612.402.482.53
Drive alone 80%77%81%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate8%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%0%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%1%3%
Work from home 17%11%9%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Mountain Brook has 2.61 people, more than in Jefferson County (2.40).

Many people here do not commute at all: 17% work from home; in Jefferson County, 11%.

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 Mountain Brook?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Mountain Brook, worth $916,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 46% of the typical household income in Mountain Brook, which is $201,479 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $329,728 a year. Note: at that price the loan is above the FHA limit for Jefferson County ($541,287), so FHA would not insure it; the payment is only a reference.

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 Mountain Brook. 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 $32,071 (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

$7,694

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$899,703
Total interest
$1,294,462
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $15,474 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $4,701 a month

  • Tight

    $4,701 to $6,044 a month

  • Hard

    more than $6,044 a month

    Your payment · 46%

Compared with the typical household income in Mountain Brook ($201,479 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$7,694
Principal & interest$6,095
Property tax$664
Home insurance$382
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$553

This loan is over the FHA limit

You'd borrow $884,229, but the FHA limit for a one-unit home in Mountain Brook is $541,287. You'd need a bigger down payment or a different loan.

You need at least $32,071 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

Mountain Brook and Jefferson County

Mountain Brook 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).

Mountain Brook's own numbers

Typical home value
$916,300
Typical monthly rent
$1,456
Typical yearly household income
$201,479
Households that own their home
90%
Effective property tax rate
0.87%

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 Mountain Brook

A typical home in Mountain Brook is worth $916,300: 282% above the county and 337% above Alabama. With the typical household income in Mountain Brook ($201,479 a year), a typical home costs 4.5 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.

  • Mountain Brook 4.5 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

Mountain Brook 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
  • Mountain Brook $916,300
  • Jefferson $240,000
  • Alabama $209,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Mountain Brook $1,456
  • Jefferson $1,193
  • Alabama $1,007
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Mountain Brook $201,479
  • Jefferson $66,388
  • Alabama $63,999
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Mountain Brook next to Jefferson County and Alabama
Measure Mountain Brook Jefferson County Alabama U.S.
Typical home value $916,300 $240,000 $209,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,456 $1,193 $1,007 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $201,479 $66,388 $63,999 $80,734
Households that own their home 90% 64% 70% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $8,005 $1,409 $788 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.87% 0.59% 0.38% 0.94%

“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 Mountain Brook

For a typical $916,300 home in Mountain Brook, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Mountain Brook's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $7,694a month

    Above the FHA limit for Jefferson County ($541,287)
    Down payment
    $32,071
    Cash to close
    $59,560
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $553

  • Conventional, 5% down $7,378a month

    Above the conventional limit for Jefferson County ($832,750): it would be a "jumbo" loan
    Down payment
    $45,815
    Cash to close
    $73,304
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $435

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $6,012a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $183,260
    Cash to close
    $210,749
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $6,859a month

    Down payment
    $137,445
    Cash to close
    $164,934
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is Conventional, 20% down, no PMI.

  • 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 Mountain Brook and for Jefferson County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Mountain Brook

0.87%of the home’s value each year

$8,005 a year for the typical owner in Mountain Brook.

  • Mountain Brook 0.87%
  • 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 Mountain Brook

Typical rent in Mountain Brook is $1,456 a month: 22% above the county.

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 Mountain Brook

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Mountain Brook has 3 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,780 in 35223 to $2,060 in 35213.

3 of the 3 are above the fair market rent for Jefferson County ($1,375).

  • 35213 $2,060$2,590
  • 35223 $1,780$2,240
  • 35243 $1,830$2,300

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

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 grandmother pushes her grandson on a playground swing.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Mountain Brook

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

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Mountain Brook, 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 · 3 miles away

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

  • Operation Hope- Birmingham Al

    2100 Park Pl, Birmingham · 5 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 · 5 miles away

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

Every agency in Jefferson County All counseling agencies in Alabama

Help in Spanish near Mountain Brook

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 Mountain Brook

HUD’s record names them for Mountain Brook 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 Mountain Brook, 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 Mountain Brook.

All guides
A man and two girls read a book together on the sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Mountain Brook

Short answers with the numbers for Mountain Brook 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 Mountain Brook?

The typical home value in Mountain Brook is $916,300, 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 Mountain Brook?

Typical rent in Mountain Brook is $1,456 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 Mountain Brook?

Mountain Brook 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 Mountain Brook?

The typical homeowner in Mountain Brook pays $8,005 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.87% of the home’s value; in Jefferson County, the rate is 0.59%.

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

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).