$70,047/yr
is the income needed to buy the typical $232,764 home in Decatur, AL at today's 6.71% rate — about $1,634/mo. The local median household ($63,987) falls $6,060 short.
The math (shown)
232,764 price − 10% down (23,276) = 209,488 loan
30-yr fixed at 6.71% on 209,488 = 1,353/mo principal+interest
+ 281/mo est. taxes+insurance (1.45%/yr of value — national placeholder)
1,634/mo PITI ÷ 0.28 = 5,837/mo → 70,047/yr required
against Zillow ZHVI 2026-07 (Zillow ZHVI (typical home value, smoothed, all-homes 33–67pct tier)) and the 6.71% FRED 30-yr rate (2026-09-03). Local median income: $63,987 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year, median household income (table B19013)).
Can I afford Decatur, AL on my salary?
Your salary:
Rent vs own here
Honest null: HUD FMR needs a free huduser.gov token (env.HUD_TOKEN). Honest-null until set. (HUD FMR needs a free token; not wired here.)
FAQ
How much do I need to make to live in Decatur, AL?
To buy the typical home, about $70,047/yr. Renting needs less; this page sizes the buy.
What home value is this based on?
Zillow's ZHVI typical-home-value for the Decatur, AL metro (2026-07): $232,764.
Is the mortgage rate current?
Yes — 6.71% from FRED's weekly 30-year fixed average (2026-09-03).
Glossary
ZHVI
Zillow Home Value Index — the typical home value for a region (35th–65th percentile, smoothed, seasonally adjusted).
Front-end DTI
Housing payment as a share of gross income; lenders commonly cap it near 28%.
PITI
Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance — the full monthly housing cost.