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City · 5,042 residents · Caldwell County, North Carolina

Sawmills , North Carolina

In Sawmills, a typical home is worth $219,600 and typical rent is $730 a month. Compared with all of Caldwell County, typical household income is 26% higher and the typical home value is 14% higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $219,600

    14% above the county

    24% below North Carolina

    • Sawmills
    • Caldwell
    • North Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $730a month

    About the same as the county

    41% below North Carolina

    • Sawmills
    • Caldwell
    • North Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $71,067a year

    26% above the county

    About the same as North Carolina

    • Sawmills
    • Caldwell
    • North Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    69%

    5 points below the county

    2 points above North Carolina

    • Sawmills
    • Caldwell
    • North Carolina

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$228,356
0.7% more than 12 months ago

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

Sawmills is in Caldwell 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 Caldwell County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Sawmills apart

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

  1. Sawmills has the 7th lowest typical rent of the 154 cities in North Carolina with more than 5,000 people ($730).

  2. Nearby, in Long View, the typical home value is $157,300: 28% less than in Sawmills ($219,600).

  3. The typical household income in Sawmills is $71,067, 26% more than in Caldwell County as a whole ($56,425).

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

The homes here

Housing in Sawmills

What homes there are in Sawmills, 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 still the most common home in Sawmills, but it weighs less than in Caldwell County: 62% against 73%.

Mobile homes are 27% of homes in Sawmills, more than in Caldwell County (15%).

Year built

Homes in Sawmills are newer: the typical year built is 1990; in Caldwell County, 1980.

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

$1,134 a month

Caldwell County: $1,191 a month

Without a mortgage

$363 a month

Caldwell County: $362 a month

Owners with a mortgage

66%

Caldwell County: 51%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Sawmills is $1,134 a month, near the figure in Caldwell County ($1,191).

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 Sawmills rose 103%; in Caldwell County, it rose 63%.

Rent in Sawmills 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

MeasureSawmillsCaldwell CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate7.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.8%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.642.422.442.53
Drive alone 84%82%72%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate10%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate0%1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate7%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

More people live in each home here: 2.64 on average, against 2.42 in Caldwell County.

To get to work, 84% of workers in Sawmills drive alone; in Caldwell County, 82%.

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 Sawmills?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Sawmills, worth $219,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 30% of the typical household income in Sawmills, which is $71,067 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $75,234 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Sawmills. 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 $7,686 (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

$1,755

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$215,622
Total interest
$310,230
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,708 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,658 a month

  • Tight

    $1,658 to $2,132 a month

    Your payment · 30%

  • Hard

    more than $2,132 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Sawmills ($71,067 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,755
Principal & interest$1,461
Property tax$106
Home insurance$92
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$97

You need at least $7,686 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

Sawmills and Caldwell County

Sawmills is in Caldwell 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).

Sawmills's own numbers

Typical home value
$219,600
Typical monthly rent
$730
Typical yearly household income
$71,067
Households that own their home
69%
Effective property tax rate
0.58%

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

Numbers for all of Caldwell County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,147
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+62%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.3%

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 Caldwell County.

Everything about Caldwell County

Buying

Buying a home in Sawmills

A typical home in Sawmills is worth $219,600: 14% above the county and 24% below North Carolina. With the typical household income in Sawmills ($71,067 a year), a typical home costs 3.1 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.

  • Sawmills 3.1 years
  • Caldwell 3.4 years
  • North Carolina 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Caldwell County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Caldwell County rose 108% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County North Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.4% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +62% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +108% +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

Sawmills next to Caldwell 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
  • Sawmills $219,600
  • Caldwell $192,200
  • North Carolina $288,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Sawmills $730
  • Caldwell $744
  • North Carolina $1,228
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Sawmills $71,067
  • Caldwell $56,425
  • North Carolina $72,388
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Sawmills next to Caldwell County and North Carolina
Measure Sawmills Caldwell County North Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $219,600 $192,200 $288,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $730 $744 $1,228 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $71,067 $56,425 $72,388 $80,734
Households that own their home 69% 74% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,275 $1,150 $1,896 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.58% 0.6% 0.66% 0.94%

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

For a typical $219,600 home in Sawmills, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Sawmills's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,755a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $7,686
    Cash to close
    $14,274
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $97

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,715a month

    Down payment
    $10,980
    Cash to close
    $17,568
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $104

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,388a month

    Down payment
    $43,920
    Cash to close
    $50,508
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,591a month

    Down payment
    $32,940
    Cash to close
    $39,528
    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 Sawmills and for Caldwell County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Sawmills

0.58%of the home’s value each year

$1,275 a year for the typical owner in Sawmills.

  • Sawmills 0.58%
  • Caldwell 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 Caldwell County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.3%
489
Of those, with NFIP insurance
19%
County North Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.3% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 19% 53% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Sawmills

Typical rent in Sawmills is $730 a month: about the same as the county.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Caldwell County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,147 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $22.06 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Caldwell 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 $961 $18.48 $38,440
1 bedroom $965 $18.56 $38,600
2 bedrooms $1,147 $22.06 $45,880
3 bedrooms $1,399 $26.90 $55,960
4 bedrooms $1,707 $32.83 $68,280

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 Sawmills

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

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,010 in 28638 to $1,130 in 28630.

None is above the fair market rent for Caldwell County ($1,147).

  • 28630 $1,130$1,380
  • 28638 $1,010$1,240

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

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

A young woman and a young man point to a line in their notes beside a laptop in a library.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Sawmills

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Sawmills or Caldwell County. The ones below are statewide in North Carolina: they work in Sawmills 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 Sawmills

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

  • Western Piedmont Council of Governments

    1880 2nd Ave NW, Hickory · 8 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 3 more
    (828) 322-9191

  • Cleveland County Community Development Corporation

    823 W Warren St, Shelby · 37 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 11 more
    (704) 480-7701

  • The Safeguard Group - Housing & Debt Advisors

    240 N Main St, Mooresville · 41 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 5 more
    800-673-6993-146

All counseling agencies in North Carolina

Help in Spanish near Sawmills

2 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 Sawmills

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Caldwell County is named for Sawmills or Caldwell County.

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

Cities

Other cities in Caldwell County

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

Everything about Caldwell County Housing in North Carolina

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If Caldwell 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 Sawmills.

All guides
A mother holds her laughing daughter on a grey sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Sawmills

Short answers with the numbers for Sawmills and all of Caldwell 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 Sawmills?

The typical home value in Sawmills is $219,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Caldwell County it is $192,200.

How much does it cost to rent in Sawmills?

Typical rent in Sawmills is $730 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Caldwell County is $1,147.

What is the FHA loan limit in Sawmills?

Sawmills uses the FHA limit for all of Caldwell 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 Sawmills?

The typical homeowner in Sawmills pays $1,275 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.58% of the home’s value; in Caldwell County, the rate is 0.6%.

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

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