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City · 9,457 residents · Catawba County, North Carolina

St. Stephens , North Carolina

In St. Stephens, a typical home is worth $213,300 and typical rent is $958 a month. Compared with all of Catawba County, the typical home value is 12% lower, typical household income is 11% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 11 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $213,300

    12% below the county

    26% below North Carolina

    • St. Stephens
    • Catawba
    • North Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $958a month

    About the same as the county

    22% below North Carolina

    • St. Stephens
    • Catawba
    • North Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $60,394a year

    11% below the county

    17% below North Carolina

    • St. Stephens
    • Catawba
    • North Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    84%

    11 points above the county

    17 points above North Carolina

    • St. Stephens
    • Catawba
    • North Carolina

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

St. Stephens is in Catawba 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 Catawba County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets St. Stephens apart

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

  1. Nearby, in Long View, the typical home value is $157,300: 26% less than in St. Stephens ($213,300).

  2. Nearby, in Sawmills, the typical rent is $730: 24% less than in St. Stephens ($958).

  3. 84% of households in St. Stephens own their home, against 72% in Catawba County.

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

The homes here

Housing in St. Stephens

What homes there are in St. Stephens, 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 St. Stephens: 77% of homes, more than in Catawba County (69%).

Year built

In St. Stephens, half of the homes were built before 1977; in Catawba County, before 1985.

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

With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 93% of owner-occupied homes in St. Stephens sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,227 a month

Catawba County: $1,343 a month

Without a mortgage

$332 a month

Catawba County: $404 a month

Owners with a mortgage

58%

Catawba County: 59%

In St. Stephens, 58% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,227 a month, against $1,343 in Catawba County. Without one it drops to $332.

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

Homes in St. Stephens gained value more slowly than in Catawba County: 62% since 2015–2019, against 68%.

Much as in Catawba County, the typical rent in St. Stephens rose 30% since 2015–2019.

Housing prices ran ahead of income in St. Stephens: typical income rose 25%, against +62% for home values and +30% for rent.

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

MeasureSt. StephensCatawba CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate6.6%7.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.6%1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.3%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.382.432.442.53
Drive alone 88%80%72%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate11%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%2%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate8%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

A household in St. Stephens has 2.38 people on average, about the same as in Catawba County (2.43).

In St. Stephens, 88% of workers drive alone to work; in Catawba 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 St. Stephens?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in St. Stephens, worth $213,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 33% of the typical household income in St. Stephens, which is $60,394 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $72,162 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in St. Stephens. 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 $7,466 (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

$1,684

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$209,436
Total interest
$301,329
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,602 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,409 a month

  • Tight

    $1,409 to $1,812 a month

    Your payment · 33%

  • Hard

    more than $1,812 a month

Compared with the typical household income in St. Stephens ($60,394 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,684
Principal & interest$1,419
Property tax$82
Home insurance$89
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$94

You need at least $7,466 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

St. Stephens and Catawba County

St. Stephens is in Catawba 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).

St. Stephens's own numbers

Typical home value
$213,300
Typical monthly rent
$958
Typical yearly household income
$60,394
Households that own their home
84%
Effective property tax rate
0.46%

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

Numbers for all of Catawba 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)
+64%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.5%

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 Catawba County.

Everything about Catawba County

Buying

Buying a home in St. Stephens

A typical home in St. Stephens is worth $213,300: 12% below the county and 26% below North Carolina. With the typical household income in St. Stephens ($60,394 a year), a typical home costs 3.5 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.

  • St. Stephens 3.5 years
  • Catawba 3.6 years
  • North Carolina 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Catawba County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Catawba County rose 111% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County North Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.5% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +64% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +111% +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

St. Stephens next to Catawba 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
  • St. Stephens $213,300
  • Catawba $241,600
  • North Carolina $288,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • St. Stephens $958
  • Catawba $965
  • North Carolina $1,228
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • St. Stephens $60,394
  • Catawba $67,864
  • North Carolina $72,388
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
St. Stephens next to Catawba County and North Carolina
Measure St. Stephens Catawba County North Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $213,300 $241,600 $288,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $958 $965 $1,228 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $60,394 $67,864 $72,388 $80,734
Households that own their home 84% 72% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $985 $1,407 $1,896 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.46% 0.58% 0.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 61% 41% 49% 51%

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

For a typical $213,300 home in St. Stephens, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, St. Stephens's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,684a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $7,466
    Cash to close
    $13,865
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $94

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,645a month

    Down payment
    $10,665
    Cash to close
    $17,064
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $101

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,327a month

    Down payment
    $42,660
    Cash to close
    $49,059
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,524a month

    Down payment
    $31,995
    Cash to close
    $38,394
    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 St. Stephens and for Catawba County.

Property tax

Effective rate in St. Stephens

0.46%of the home’s value each year

$985 a year for the typical owner in St. Stephens.

  • St. Stephens 0.46%
  • Catawba 0.58%
  • 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 Catawba County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.5%
293
Of those, with NFIP insurance
31%
County North Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.5% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 31% 53% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in St. Stephens

Typical rent in St. Stephens is $958 a month: about the same as the county. In St. Stephens, 61% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Catawba 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 Catawba 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 St. Stephens

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

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,130 in 28613 to $1,320 in 28601.

1 of the 2 is above the fair market rent for Catawba County ($1,147).

  • 28601 $1,320$1,610
  • 28613 $1,130$1,380

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

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 Catawba County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A man leans over the armchair to help a teenage girl with her book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in St. Stephens

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

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of St. Stephens, 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 · 6 miles away · Spanish

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

  • The Safeguard Group - Housing & Debt Advisors

    240 N Main St, Mooresville · 27 miles away · Spanish

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

  • Community Foundations

    919 N Main Street, Suite 143A, Mooresville · 28 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (704) 799-7641

Every agency in Catawba County All counseling agencies in North Carolina

Help in Spanish near St. Stephens

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 St. Stephens

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

2 other authorities have an office in Catawba County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Catawba County

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

Everything about Catawba County Housing in North Carolina

Nearby cities

The cities closest to St. Stephens, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Catawba 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 St. Stephens.

All guides
A mother and her daughters smile together on a mountain trail with a snowy peak behind them.

Questions

Housing questions about St. Stephens

Short answers with the numbers for St. Stephens and all of Catawba 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 St. Stephens?

The typical home value in St. Stephens is $213,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Catawba County it is $241,600.

How much does it cost to rent in St. Stephens?

Typical rent in St. Stephens is $958 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Catawba County is $1,147.

What is the FHA loan limit in St. Stephens?

St. Stephens uses the FHA limit for all of Catawba 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 St. Stephens?

The typical homeowner in St. Stephens pays $985 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.46% of the home’s value; in Catawba County, the rate is 0.58%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in St. Stephens?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Catawba County. 1 says it serves 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).