Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Emerald Mountain, Alabama
A $294,000 home here costs
$2,363per 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 $101,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,603. The real number is $760 higher every month, 47% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Elmore County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Emerald Mountain from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,387 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Elmore County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Emerald Mountain against Elmore County and Alabama
| Measure | Emerald Mountain | Elmore County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $294,100 | $213,600 |
| Median property tax | $717 | $563 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.244% | 0.264% |
| Median gross rent | — | $1,014 |
| Population | 3,387 | 88,669 |
The weather behind that power bill
Emerald Mountain sits in Elmore County, which averages a high of 93.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 36.5°F in its coldest, with 51.16" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,540 cooling and 2,000 heating degree days, which is what sets the $187 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Elmore County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Elmore County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Emerald Mountain 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 Emerald Mountain every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Emerald Mountain I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Emerald Mountain?
A $294,000 home in Emerald Mountain, Alabama costs approximately $2,363 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,603 principal and interest, $60 property tax, $201 homeowners insurance, $255 utilities and $245 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Emerald Mountain?
Emerald Mountain has an effective property tax rate of 0.244%, based on a median home value of $294,100 and median real estate taxes of $717. That is lower than the Elmore County average of 0.264%.
What is the average home price in Emerald Mountain?
The median owner-occupied home value in Emerald Mountain, Alabama is $294,100, against $213,600 across Elmore County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Emerald Mountain?
Rent data is not published for Emerald Mountain at this level of detail.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Emerald Mountain?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Emerald Mountain, Alabama at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $101,500 a year. That covers the full $2,363 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Emerald Mountain, 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.