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City · 9,340 residents · Colbert County, Alabama

Sheffield , Alabama

In Sheffield, a typical home is worth $133,800 and typical rent is $829 a month. Compared with all of Colbert County, typical household income is 34% lower, the typical home value is 22% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 11 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $133,800

    22% below the county

    36% below Alabama

    • Sheffield
    • Colbert
    • Alabama

  • Typical rent

    $829a month

    7% below the county

    18% below Alabama

    • Sheffield
    • Colbert
    • Alabama

  • Typical household income

    $39,733a year

    34% below the county

    38% below Alabama

    • Sheffield
    • Colbert
    • Alabama

  • Households that own their home

    60%

    11 points below the county

    10 points below Alabama

    • Sheffield
    • Colbert
    • Alabama

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$129,582
1% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$815 a month

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

Sheffield is in Colbert 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 Colbert County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Sheffield apart

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

  1. The typical household income in Sheffield is $39,733, 34% less than in Colbert County as a whole ($60,628).

  2. Nearby, in Russellville, the typical rent is $685: 17% less than in Sheffield ($829).

  3. The typical home in Sheffield is worth $133,800, 22% less than in Colbert County as a whole ($171,000).

  4. 60% of households in Sheffield own their home, against 71% in Colbert County.

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

The homes here

Housing in Sheffield

What homes there are in Sheffield, 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 Sheffield, 8 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses, about the same as in Colbert County.

Year built

In Sheffield, half of the homes were built before 1962; in Colbert County, before 1979.

There are fewer big homes in Sheffield than in Colbert County: 57% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 71%.

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

The FHA limit for Colbert County is high ($541,287): at least 99% of owner-occupied homes in Sheffield are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,134 a month

Colbert County: $1,243 a month

Without a mortgage

$437 a month

Colbert County: $448 a month

Owners with a mortgage

48%

Colbert County: 51%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Sheffield is $1,134 a month, less than in Colbert County ($1,243); without one, $437.

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 Sheffield rose 49%; in Colbert County, it rose 42%.

Rents in Sheffield rose at about the same pace as in Colbert County: 29% since 2015–2019, against 27%.

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

MeasureSheffieldColbert 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 estimateUnreliable estimate1.7%3.4%
People per household 1.962.372.482.53
Drive alone 79%81%81%69%
Carpool 13%10%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Work from home 7%7%9%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Sheffield are smaller: 1.96 people on average; in Colbert County, 2.37.

Carpooling is common in Sheffield: 13% of workers get to work that way, against 10% in Colbert County.

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 Sheffield?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Sheffield, worth $133,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 32% of the typical household income in Sheffield, which is $39,733 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $45,123 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Sheffield. 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 $4,683 (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

$1,053

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$131,377
Total interest
$189,020
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,260 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $927 a month

  • Tight

    $927 to $1,192 a month

    Your payment · 32%

  • Hard

    more than $1,192 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Sheffield ($39,733 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,053
Principal & interest$890
Property tax$48
Home insurance$56
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$59

You need at least $4,683 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

Sheffield and Colbert County

Sheffield is in Colbert 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).

Sheffield's own numbers

Typical home value
$133,800
Typical monthly rent
$829
Typical yearly household income
$39,733
Households that own their home
60%
Effective property tax rate
0.43%

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

Numbers for all of Colbert County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,085
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+63%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.9%

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 Colbert County.

Everything about Colbert County

Buying

Buying a home in Sheffield

A typical home in Sheffield is worth $133,800: 22% below the county and 36% below Alabama. With the typical household income in Sheffield ($39,733 a year), a typical home costs 3.4 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.

  • Sheffield 3.4 years
  • Colbert 2.8 years
  • Alabama 3.3 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Colbert County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Colbert County rose 88% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Alabama U.S.
Last year (2025) +7.3% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +63% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +88% +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

Sheffield next to Colbert 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
  • Sheffield $133,800
  • Colbert $171,000
  • Alabama $209,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Sheffield $829
  • Colbert $887
  • Alabama $1,007
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Sheffield $39,733
  • Colbert $60,628
  • Alabama $63,999
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Sheffield next to Colbert County and Alabama
Measure Sheffield Colbert County Alabama U.S.
Typical home value $133,800 $171,000 $209,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $829 $887 $1,007 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $39,733 $60,628 $63,999 $80,734
Households that own their home 60% 71% 70% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $579 $678 $788 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.43% 0.4% 0.38% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 54% 41% 49% 51%

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

For a typical $133,800 home in Sheffield, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Sheffield's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,053a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $4,683
    Cash to close
    $8,697
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $59

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,028a month

    Down payment
    $6,690
    Cash to close
    $10,704
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $64

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $829a month

    Down payment
    $26,760
    Cash to close
    $30,774
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $953a month

    Down payment
    $20,070
    Cash to close
    $24,084
    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 Sheffield and for Colbert County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Sheffield

0.43%of the home’s value each year

$579 a year for the typical owner in Sheffield.

  • Sheffield 0.43%
  • Colbert 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 Colbert County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.9%
446
Of those, with NFIP insurance
11%
County Alabama U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.9% 3.2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 11% 29% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Sheffield

Typical rent in Sheffield is $829 a month: 7% below the county. In Sheffield, 54% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Colbert County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,085 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $20.87 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Colbert 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 $760 $14.62 $30,400
1 bedroom $834 $16.04 $33,360
2 bedrooms $1,085 $20.87 $43,400
3 bedrooms $1,348 $25.92 $53,920
4 bedrooms $1,426 $27.42 $57,040

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 Sheffield

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Sheffield is in ZIP code 35660.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,090: $5 more than the fair market rent for Colbert County ($1,085).

  • 35660 $1,090$1,350

A ZIP code counts for Sheffield 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 Sheffield

HUD lists 4 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Sheffield. These are the largest.

  • Archer Village 2810 E 12th Ave, Sheffield 35660 154 homes, 153 low-income · Run by Sheffield Housing Authority · Average payment: $411 a month · Average wait: 4 months (256) 383-4773
  • Manning 2207 W 17th St, Sheffield 35660 126 low-income homes · Run by Sheffield Housing Authority · Average payment: $415 a month · Average wait: 4 months · Homes at several sites (256) 383-4773
  • Long Lowe 1207 Long Lowe Ct, Sheffield 35660 116 homes, 114 low-income · Run by Sheffield Housing Authority · Average payment: $431 a month · Average wait: 3 months · Homes at several sites (256) 383-4773
  • Jackson Homes 2610 E 12th Ave, Sheffield 35660 10 low-income homes · Run by Sheffield Housing Authority · Homes at several sites (256) 383-4773

See all 14 buildings in Colbert County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Sheffield

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 Colbert County; none says it serves in Spanish.

An older woman smiles in front of her apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Sheffield

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

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

  • Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama - Colbert County

    505 N Columbia Avenue, Sheffield · 0 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (256) 383-3832

  • Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama, Inc.

    745 Thompson St, Florence · 5 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (256) 766-4330

  • Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama - Franklin County

    13150 Highway 43 Ste 4, Russellville · 19 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (256) 332-7534

Every agency in Colbert County All counseling agencies in Alabama

Help in Spanish near Sheffield

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 Sheffield

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

  • Sheffield Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (256) 383-4773

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

Cities

Other cities in Colbert County

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

Everything about Colbert County Housing in Alabama

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If Colbert 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 Sheffield.

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

Questions

Housing questions about Sheffield

Short answers with the numbers for Sheffield and all of Colbert 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 Sheffield?

The typical home value in Sheffield is $133,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Colbert County it is $171,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Sheffield?

Typical rent in Sheffield is $829 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Colbert County is $1,085.

What is the FHA loan limit in Sheffield?

Sheffield uses the FHA limit for all of Colbert 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 Sheffield?

The typical homeowner in Sheffield pays $579 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.43% of the home’s value; in Colbert County, the rate is 0.4%.

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

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