Houston County, Alabama Housing Market
In Houston County, Alabama, the median home value is $183,300, with a median monthly rent of $945. This places Houston County at #1591 nationally out of 3134 counties by median home value, and #17 within Alabama.
How is this calculated?
Composite of 4 axes: Affordability (30%), Stability (25%), Momentum (25%), Vitality (20%), each normalized as a percentile rank across 3134 U.S. counties. Editorial rating only — not investment advice or a property valuation.
Market Phase classifies the current state of the market based on 5-year price growth and recent FHFA momentum: 🔥 Boom · 📈 Growth · ⚖️ Stable · ❄️ Cooling · 🌱 Recovering. This is a present-state classification, not a forecast.
📈 Price Trend (2017 → 2024)
📊 Recent Market Momentum (FHFA HPI)
FHFA House Price Index — All-Transactions, Annual (2000 = 100) · Latest: 2025
📍 Economic Snapshot
Employment & Wages
- Avg weekly wage: $1,054
- Establishments: 3,713
- BLS QCEW, 2025
Housing Supply
- Single-family: 334
- Multi-family: 136
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
Migration Patterns
- Inflow: 40,386 (avg $87,768)
- Outflow: 37,764 (avg $90,390)
- IRS Statistics of Income
📍 Sub-Market Activity
Top 1 active ZIP codes in Houston County · Latest: 2025
| # | ZIP Code | HPI | YoY Change | Latest Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36312 | 172.9 | +1.33% | 2025 |
Source: FHFA HPI for Five-Digit ZIP Codes (All-Transactions Index, 2000 = 100).
This product uses FHFA Data but is neither endorsed nor certified by FHFA.
📝 Local Market Analysis
Houston County, Alabama, operates as a relatively balanced market with distinct affordability advantages for owners compared to the national average. The price-to-income ratio of 3.13 sits slightly below the national benchmark of 3.20, indicating that median household incomes of $58,626 align closely with the median home value of $183,300. However, the rent burden of 19.3% exceeds the national average of 17.2%, suggesting that renting is proportionally more expensive relative to local earnings than buying. This dynamic is reinforced by a price-to-rent ratio of 16.2, which is significantly lower than the national average of 18.7, further favoring homeownership over long-term tenancy for those with stable income. The market has experienced a pronounced acceleration in home values, peaking at 12.7% year-over-year growth in 2022 before moderating to 3.0% in 2024. Recent FHFA data shows the index at 197.21, with a current year-over-year change of 2.82%, tracking almost perfectly with the state average of 2.79%. This stabilization follows a period where home values rose faster than rents, creating a divergence that has widened the gap between ownership and rental costs. While the county’s median home value is 19.5% below the national average, it commands a 14.8% premium over the state average, reflecting stronger local demand relative to broader Alabama trends. Economic fundamentals support this sustained interest, driven by a net migration inflow of 2,622 filers between 2021 and 2022. The local labor market, comprising 42,426 jobs with an average weekly wage of $1,054, provides a stable income base that supports the 63.8% owner occupancy rate. Housing supply remains robust, with 470 new units authorized in 2025, including 334 single-family homes, which helps mitigate potential price spikes. However, the current 30-year fixed mortgage rate of 7.40% introduces significant monthly payment pressure, requiring buyers to carefully assess debt-to-income ratios. For potential entrants, the data suggests that while entry costs are lower than national norms, the high rent burden and elevated mortgage rates necessitate a focus on long-term equity accumulation rather than short-term cost savings. The market’s trajectory indicates a cooling but still appreciating environment, where the premium on local housing values relative to the state average continues to solidify.
Compiled from U.S. Census ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates, FHFA House Price Index, BLS QCEW, and IRS migration data.
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Get the complete picture for Houston County — financing options and ongoing ownership costs.
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| Metric | Houston County | Alabama Average | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $183,300 | $159,659 | $227,706 |
| Median Gross Rent | $945 | $820 | $968 |
| Owner Occupancy Rate | 63.8% | 73.2% | 73.3% |
| Price/Rent Ratio | 16.2 | 16.0 | 18.7 |
Market Analysis
The median home value in Houston County is 14.8% above the Alabama state average and 19.5% below the U.S. national average. The median rent of $945/month is 15.2% above the state average.
With a price-to-rent ratio of 16.2, the buy-vs-rent decision in Houston County is balanced. Whether buying or renting makes more sense depends on your time horizon, down payment capacity, and local market conditions.
Houston County has an owner-occupancy rate of 63.8%, compared to 73.2% in Alabama and 73.3% nationally. This indicates a more renter-heavy market than the U.S. average.
Similar Counties by Home Value
| County | State | Median Home Value | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodbury County | Iowa | $183,200 | $981 |
| Calloway County | Kentucky | $183,200 | $870 |
| Huntingdon County | Pennsylvania | $183,200 | $810 |
| Crawford County | Wisconsin | $183,400 | $789 |
| Larue County | Kentucky | $183,500 | $860 |
Other Counties in Alabama
| County | Median Home Value | Median Rent | Owner Occ. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Randolph County | $181,600 | $708 | 77.2% |
| Cherokee County | $179,700 | $762 | 81.1% |
| Coffee County | $188,600 | $1,018 | 72.3% |
| Mobile County | $190,700 | $1,052 | 66.0% |
| Blount County | $175,200 | $776 | 81.0% |
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 5-Year Estimates (2017–2024). Variables: B25077 (Median Home Value), B25064 (Median Gross Rent), B25003 (Tenure). Data collected on 2026-10-15. The price-to-rent ratio is calculated as Median Home Value ÷ (Median Monthly Rent × 12).