Español

Este sitio también está en español. Leer en español

City · 10,633 residents · Surry County, North Carolina

Mount Airy , North Carolina

In Mount Airy, a typical home is worth $181,900 and typical rent is $725 a month. Compared with all of Surry County, typical household income is 28% lower and the share of households that own their home is 18 points lower.

WhatsApp

  • Typical home value

    $181,900

    2% above the county

    37% below North Carolina

    • Mount Airy
    • Surry
    • North Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $725a month

    5% below the county

    41% below North Carolina

    • Mount Airy
    • Surry
    • North Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $40,275a year

    28% below the county

    44% below North Carolina

    • Mount Airy
    • Surry
    • North Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    55%

    18 points below the county

    11 points below North Carolina

    • Mount Airy
    • Surry
    • North Carolina

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$220,968
3.6% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,134 a month

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

Mount Airy is in Surry 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 Surry County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Mount Airy apart

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

  1. Mount Airy has the 6th lowest typical rent of the 154 cities in North Carolina with more than 5,000 people ($725).

  2. 55% of households in Mount Airy own their home, against 73% in Surry County.

  3. The typical household income in Mount Airy is $40,275, 28% less than in Surry County as a whole ($55,656).

  4. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Mount Airy rose 3.6%; in North Carolina, it barely changed.

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

The homes here

Housing in Mount Airy

What homes there are in Mount Airy, 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 Mount Airy, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Surry County, 7.

Year built

The typical home in Mount Airy was built in 1967, 12 years before the typical one in Surry 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

At least 95% of owner-occupied homes in Mount Airy are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Surry County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

At least 84% of rented homes in Mount Airy cost less than $1,000, below HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,012).

With a mortgage

$1,234 a month

Surry County: $1,252 a month

Without a mortgage

$436 a month

Surry County: $379 a month

Owners with a mortgage

55%

Surry County: 49%

Owning costs about the same in Mount Airy as in Surry County: with a mortgage, $1,234 a month; without one, $436.

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 Mount Airy rose 18% since 2015–2019, less than in Surry County (40%).

Rents in Mount Airy rose at about the same pace as in Surry County: 19% since 2015–2019, against 21%.

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

MeasureMount AirySurry CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate4.6%7.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.9%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.112.362.442.53
Drive alone 80%78%72%69%
Carpool 13%14%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Work from home 5%7%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Mount Airy are smaller: 2.11 people on average; in Surry County, 2.36.

To get to work, 80% of workers in Mount Airy drive alone; in Surry County, 78%.

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 Mount Airy?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Mount Airy, worth $181,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 44% of the typical household income in Mount Airy, which is $40,275 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $63,488 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Mount Airy. 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 $6,367 (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

$1,481

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$178,605
Total interest
$256,970
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,072 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $940 a month

  • Tight

    $940 to $1,208 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,208 a month

    Your payment · 44%

Compared with the typical household income in Mount Airy ($40,275 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,481
Principal & interest$1,210
Property tax$115
Home insurance$76
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$80

You need at least $6,367 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

Mount Airy and Surry County

Mount Airy is in Surry County, North Carolina. 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).

Mount Airy's own numbers

Typical home value
$181,900
Typical monthly rent
$725
Typical yearly household income
$40,275
Households that own their home
55%
Effective property tax rate
0.76%

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

Numbers for all of Surry County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,012
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+65%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.3%

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 Surry County.

Everything about Surry County

Buying

Buying a home in Mount Airy

A typical home in Mount Airy is worth $181,900: 2% above the county and 37% below North Carolina. With the typical household income in Mount Airy ($40,275 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.

  • Mount Airy 4.5 years
  • Surry 3.2 years
  • North Carolina 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Surry County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Surry County rose 92% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County North Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) −0.6% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +65% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +92% +107% +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

Mount Airy next to Surry County, North Carolina and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Mount Airy $181,900
  • Surry $177,600
  • North Carolina $288,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Mount Airy $725
  • Surry $761
  • North Carolina $1,228
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Mount Airy $40,275
  • Surry $55,656
  • North Carolina $72,388
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Mount Airy next to Surry County and North Carolina
Measure Mount Airy Surry County North Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $181,900 $177,600 $288,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $725 $761 $1,228 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $40,275 $55,656 $72,388 $80,734
Households that own their home 55% 73% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,379 $1,071 $1,896 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.76% 0.6% 0.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 47% 43% 49% 51%

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

For a typical $181,900 home in Mount Airy, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Mount Airy's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,481a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,367
    Cash to close
    $11,824
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $80

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,448a month

    Down payment
    $9,095
    Cash to close
    $14,552
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $86

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,177a month

    Down payment
    $36,380
    Cash to close
    $41,837
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,345a month

    Down payment
    $27,285
    Cash to close
    $32,742
    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 Mount Airy and for Surry County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Mount Airy

0.76%of the home’s value each year

$1,379 a year for the typical owner in Mount Airy.

  • Mount Airy 0.76%
  • Surry 0.6%
  • North Carolina 0.66%

What North Carolina publishes Elderly or Disabled Homestead Exclusion (North Carolina General Assembly (statute))

Exemptions and deadlines in North Carolina

Flood risk in Surry County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.3%
79
Of those, with NFIP insurance
10%
County North Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.3% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 10% 53% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Mount Airy

Typical rent in Mount Airy is $725 a month: 5% below the county. In Mount Airy, 47% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Surry County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,012 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.46 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Surry 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 $769 $14.79 $30,760
1 bedroom $774 $14.88 $30,960
2 bedrooms $1,012 $19.46 $40,480
3 bedrooms $1,206 $23.19 $48,240
4 bedrooms $1,370 $26.35 $54,800

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 Mount Airy

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Mount Airy is in ZIP code 27030.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,010: $2 less than the fair market rent for Surry County ($1,012).

  • 27030 $1,010$1,210

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Mount Airy 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 Mount Airy

HUD lists 14 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Mount Airy. These are the largest.

  • Meadowview II/Marshall Park/Graniteview 407 Price St, Mount Airy 27030 300 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the Town of Mount Airy · Average payment: $416 a month · Average wait: 8 months · Homes at several sites (336) 786-8321
  • Jasper Pointe Apartments 100 Jasper Pointe Cir, Mount Airy 27030 60 low-income homes · 1 bd: 6 · 2 bd: 30 · 3 bd: 24 · In service since 2018 · For families
  • Edgewood Place 1510 Edgewood Dr, Mount Airy 27030 56 low-income homes · 2 bd: 40 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2014 · For families
  • South Village Apartments 1348 Carolina Ct, Mount Airy 27030 40 low-income homes · For families (336) 789-4166
  • Garden Terrace Apts 100 Garden Ter, Mount Airy 27030 36 low-income homes · 1 bd: 36 · In service since 1994 · For older adults

See all 24 buildings in Surry County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Mount Airy

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

An older man and his daughter go over papers with a professional.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Mount Airy

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Mount Airy or Surry County. The ones below are statewide in North Carolina: they work in Mount Airy the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in North Carolina

  • NC Home Advantage Mortgage

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA fixed-rate mortgage with down payment assistance, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment

    Statewide in North Carolina

    A fixed amount of NCHFA down payment assistance for first-time buyers and veterans in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA interest-free loan with deferred payments of up to 25% of the price (maximum $50,000) for the down payment of low- and moderate-income buyers in North Carolina; you apply through a member organization. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Mount Airy

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

  • Financial Pathways of the Piedmont

    7820 North Point Boulevard, Suite 100, Winston Salem · 31 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    336-896-1191-1102

  • Financial Pathways of the Piedmont - Winston-Salem Office

    7820 North Point Blvd, Suite #100, Winston Salem · 31 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 8 more
    336-773-0286-104

  • Credit.org - North Carolina Branch

    615 Saint George Square Ct, Winston Salem · 34 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 4 more
    (800) 431-8157

All counseling agencies in North Carolina

Help in Spanish near Mount Airy

3 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 Mount Airy

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

  • Housing Authority of the Town of Mount Airy Public housing (336) 786-8321

All housing agencies in North Carolina Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Mount Airy, with the typical home value.

Everything about Surry County Housing in North Carolina

Neighboring counties

If Surry 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 Mount Airy.

All guides
Three women of one family lean in together to stir the pan.

Questions

Housing questions about Mount Airy

Short answers with the numbers for Mount Airy and all of Surry 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 Mount Airy?

The typical home value in Mount Airy is $181,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Surry County it is $177,600.

How much does it cost to rent in Mount Airy?

Typical rent in Mount Airy is $725 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Surry County is $1,012.

What is the FHA loan limit in Mount Airy?

Mount Airy uses the FHA limit for all of Surry 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 Mount Airy?

The typical homeowner in Mount Airy pays $1,379 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.76% of the home’s value; in Surry County, the rate is 0.6%.

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

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Surry 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).