Cost to Own
United States › Alabama › St. Clair County › Pell City Population 13,353 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 $680 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full St. Clair County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Pell City, Alabama

A $238,000 home here costs

$1,978

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 $85,000 a year.

P&I 66%Tax 3%Insurance 8%Utilities 13%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,298. The real number is $680 higher every month, 52% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare St. Clair County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Pell City median: $238,100
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, $190,400 borrowed $1,298
Property tax0.328% effective rate for Pell City itself $65
Homeowners insuranceAlabama averages $1,610/yr (NAIC), or 0.819% of home value $162
Electricity16.33ยข/kWh, Alabama residential average, EIA $187
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $198
Total monthly $1,978

Pell City against St. Clair County and Alabama

MeasurePell CitySt. Clair County
Median home value$238,100$218,500
Median property tax$780$666
Effective tax rate0.328%0.305%
Median gross rent$1,103$1,077
Population13,35392,903

The weather behind that power bill

Pell City sits in St. Clair County, which averages a high of 90.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 32.9°F in its coldest, with 52.23" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,840 cooling and 2,808 heating degree days, which is what sets the $187 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in St. Clair County

Full St. Clair County cost breakdown · Every county in Alabama

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Pell City 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 Pell City every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

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

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Pell City?

A $238,000 home in Pell City, Alabama costs approximately $1,978 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,298 principal and interest, $65 property tax, $162 homeowners insurance, $255 utilities and $198 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Pell City?

Pell City has an effective property tax rate of 0.328%, based on a median home value of $238,100 and median real estate taxes of $780. That is higher than the St. Clair County average of 0.305%.

What is the average home price in Pell City?

The median owner-occupied home value in Pell City, Alabama is $238,100, against $218,500 across St. Clair County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Pell City?

Median gross rent in Pell City is $1,103 a month, against $1,978 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 Pell City?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Pell City, Alabama at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $85,000 a year. That covers the full $1,978 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Pell City, 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