Cost to Own
United States › Alabama › Blount County › Smoke Rise Population 1,469 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 $661 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Blount County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Smoke Rise, Alabama

A $223,000 home here costs

$1,877

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 $80,500 a year.

P&I 65%Tax 4%Insurance 8%Utilities 14%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,216. The real number is $661 higher every month, 54% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Blount County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Smoke Rise from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,469 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 Blount County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Smoke Rise median: $223,200
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, $178,400 borrowed $1,216
Property tax0.367% effective rate for Smoke Rise itself $68
Homeowners insuranceAlabama averages $1,610/yr (NAIC), or 0.819% of home value $152
Electricity16.33¢/kWh, Alabama residential average, EIA $187
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $186
Total monthly $1,877

Smoke Rise against Blount County and Alabama

MeasureSmoke RiseBlount County
Median home value$223,200$169,700
Median property tax$820$508
Effective tax rate0.367%0.299%
Median gross rent—$743
Population1,46959,292

The weather behind that power bill

Smoke Rise sits in Blount County, which averages a high of 90.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 32.9°F in its coldest, with 57.37" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,906 cooling and 2,862 heating degree days, which is what sets the $187 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Blount County

Full Blount County cost breakdown · Every county in Alabama

Talk to someone who works this market

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

I'm looking to buy in Smoke Rise I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Smoke Rise?

A $223,000 home in Smoke Rise, Alabama costs approximately $1,877 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,216 principal and interest, $68 property tax, $152 homeowners insurance, $255 utilities and $186 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Smoke Rise?

Smoke Rise has an effective property tax rate of 0.367%, based on a median home value of $223,200 and median real estate taxes of $820. That is higher than the Blount County average of 0.299%.

What is the average home price in Smoke Rise?

The median owner-occupied home value in Smoke Rise, Alabama is $223,200, against $169,700 across Blount County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Smoke Rise?

Rent data is not published for Smoke Rise at this level of detail.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Smoke Rise?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Smoke Rise, Alabama at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $80,500 a year. That covers the full $1,877 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Smoke Rise, 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