Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Level Plains, Alabama
A $125,000 home here costs
$1,160per 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 $49,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $681. The real number is $479 higher every month, 70% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Dale County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Level Plains from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,608 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 Dale 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.
Level Plains against Dale County and Alabama
| Measure | Level Plains | Dale County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $125,300 | $129,100 |
| Median property tax | $416 | $426 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.332% | 0.330% |
| Median gross rent | $826 | $863 |
| Population | 1,608 | 49,516 |
The weather behind that power bill
Level Plains sits in Dale County, which averages a high of 93.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 39.8°F in its coldest, with 53.85" of precipitation a year and 32% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,686 cooling and 1,633 heating degree days, which is what sets the $187 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Dale County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Dale County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Level Plains 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 Level Plains every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Level Plains I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Level Plains?
A $125,000 home in Level Plains, Alabama costs approximately $1,160 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $681 principal and interest, $35 property tax, $85 homeowners insurance, $255 utilities and $104 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Level Plains?
Level Plains has an effective property tax rate of 0.332%, based on a median home value of $125,300 and median real estate taxes of $416. That is in line with the Dale County average of 0.330%.
What is the average home price in Level Plains?
The median owner-occupied home value in Level Plains, Alabama is $125,300, against $129,100 across Dale County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Level Plains?
Median gross rent in Level Plains is $826 a month, against $1,160 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 Level Plains?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Level Plains, Alabama at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $49,500 a year. That covers the full $1,160 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Level Plains, 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.