Cost to Own
United States › Alabama › Etowah County › Attalla Population 5,829 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $469 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Etowah County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Attalla, Alabama

A $120,000 home here costs

$1,123

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $48,000 a year.

P&I 58%Tax 3%Insurance 7%Utilities 23%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $654. The real number is $469 higher every month, 72% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Etowah County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Attalla median: $120,400
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
AL average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $96,000 borrowed $654
Property tax0.326% effective rate for Attalla itself $33
Homeowners insuranceAlabama averages $1,610/yr (NAIC), or 0.819% of home value $82
Electricity16.33ยข/kWh, Alabama residential average, EIA $187
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $100
Total monthly $1,123

Attalla against Etowah County and Alabama

MeasureAttallaEtowah County
Median home value$120,400$160,600
Median property tax$393$585
Effective tax rate0.326%0.364%
Median gross rent$617$807
Population5,829103,208

The weather behind that power bill

Attalla sits in Etowah County, which averages a high of 90.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 32.8°F in its coldest, with 57.64" of precipitation a year and 28% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,018 cooling and 2,782 heating degree days, which is what sets the $187 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Etowah County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Etowah County

Full Etowah County cost breakdown · Every county in Alabama

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Attalla averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Attalla every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Attalla I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Attalla?

A $120,000 home in Attalla, Alabama costs approximately $1,123 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $654 principal and interest, $33 property tax, $82 homeowners insurance, $255 utilities and $100 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Attalla?

Attalla has an effective property tax rate of 0.326%, based on a median home value of $120,400 and median real estate taxes of $393. That is lower than the Etowah County average of 0.364%.

What is the average home price in Attalla?

The median owner-occupied home value in Attalla, Alabama is $120,400, against $160,600 across Etowah County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Attalla?

Median gross rent in Attalla is $617 a month, against $1,123 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Attalla?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Attalla, Alabama at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $48,000 a year. That covers the full $1,123 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Attalla, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Alabama.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology