Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Huntsville, Alabama
A $263,000 home here costs
$2,204per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.32% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $94,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,445. The real number is $759 higher every month, 53% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Madison County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Huntsville against Madison County and Alabama
| Measure | Huntsville | Madison County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $263,100 | $267,800 |
| Median property tax | $1,259 | $1,081 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.479% | 0.404% |
| Median gross rent | $1,078 | $1,116 |
| Population | 218,814 | 397,135 |
Huntsville extends across 3 counties. Figures here use Madison County, where most of its housing sits.
The weather behind that power bill
Huntsville sits in Madison County, which averages a high of 91.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 33.1°F in its coldest, with 54.29" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,107 cooling and 2,831 heating degree days, which is what sets the $187 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Madison County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Madison County
Full Madison County cost breakdown · Every county in Alabama
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Huntsville 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 Huntsville every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Huntsville I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Huntsville?
A $263,000 home in Huntsville, Alabama costs approximately $2,204 per month with 20% down at 7.32%. That is $1,445 principal and interest, $105 property tax, $179 homeowners insurance, $255 utilities and $219 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Huntsville?
Huntsville has an effective property tax rate of 0.479%, based on a median home value of $263,100 and median real estate taxes of $1,259. That is higher than the Madison County average of 0.404%.
What is the average home price in Huntsville?
The median owner-occupied home value in Huntsville, Alabama is $263,100, against $267,800 across Madison County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Huntsville?
Median gross rent in Huntsville is $1,078 a month, against $2,204 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 Huntsville?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Huntsville, Alabama at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $94,500 a year. That covers the full $2,204 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Huntsville, 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.