Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Livingston, Alabama
A $163,000 home here costs
$1,451per 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 $62,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $889. The real number is $562 higher every month, 63% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Sumter County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Livingston from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,243 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 Sumter 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.
Livingston against Sumter County and Alabama
| Measure | Livingston | Sumter County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $163,300 | $84,100 |
| Median property tax | $729 | $297 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.446% | 0.353% |
| Median gross rent | $763 | $841 |
| Population | 3,243 | 12,020 |
The weather behind that power bill
Livingston sits in Sumter County, which averages a high of 91.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 34.8°F in its coldest, with 59.96" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,101 cooling and 2,461 heating degree days, which is what sets the $187 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Sumter County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Sumter County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Livingston 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 Livingston every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
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Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Livingston?
A $163,000 home in Livingston, Alabama costs approximately $1,451 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $889 principal and interest, $61 property tax, $111 homeowners insurance, $255 utilities and $136 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Livingston?
Livingston has an effective property tax rate of 0.446%, based on a median home value of $163,300 and median real estate taxes of $729. That is higher than the Sumter County average of 0.353%.
What is the average home price in Livingston?
The median owner-occupied home value in Livingston, Alabama is $163,300, against $84,100 across Sumter County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Livingston?
Median gross rent in Livingston is $763 a month, against $1,451 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 Livingston?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Livingston, Alabama at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $62,000 a year. That covers the full $1,451 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Livingston, 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.