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New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

Benton, AL Housing Affordability Index

Benton, Alabama has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 156.3 (Highly Affordable) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 251st most affordable of 446 scored Alabama cities, compared with 134.1 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $95,000 home with 20% down, the Alabama average 30-year fixed rate of 7.19% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $515, or 13% of the city’s $46,750 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Benton is updated every night from live Alabama mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

Benton MBR-HAI 156.3 Highly Affordable
Rank in Alabama 251 of 446 1 = most affordable
Alabama 134.1 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.19% Alabama lenders
Median home value $95,000 U.S. Census Bureau

Benton is 22.2 points above the Alabama score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the Alabama index

View Benton Mortgage Rates

See What You Can Afford in Benton, Alabama

Use this Benton, Alabama home affordability calculator to see how much house you can afford at today’s Alabama average 30-year mortgage rate of 7.19%. A household earning the Benton median income of $46,750, with no other debts and $19,000 down, can afford a home of about $145,757, compared with a median home value of $95,000. Buying the median priced home with 20% down takes a household income of about $27,100 once property tax and insurance are counted.

Benton median (Census)
Car, student loan, card minimums
Under 20% adds PMI
Alabama average, 30-year fixed
Benton median bill (Census)
Estimate; use your quote
You can afford a home up to
$145,757
At or above the Benton median home value of $95,000
Loan amount$126,757
Principal & interest$859/mo
Property tax$118/mo
Home insurance$61/mo
PMI$53/mo
Total monthly payment$1,091/mo
Compare Benton Mortgage Rates

How much house can you afford in Benton?

Most lenders use two limits. Your housing payment, including principal, interest, property tax, homeowners insurance and any PMI, should stay under about 28% of your gross monthly income, and all of your monthly debt payments together should stay under about 36%. The calculator takes whichever limit is lower, then works backward from that payment to the most expensive home it covers at the current rate.

In Benton, property taxes run about 0.97% of a home’s value each year, based on the Census median tax bill, which counts against the same monthly budget as the mortgage. Each quarter point move in mortgage rates changes the price you can afford by roughly $2,508 for a median income household. A larger down payment, paying down other debts, or a lower rate from a local lender all raise your budget.

What It Takes to Buy in Benton

$515/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.19%
$22,100
Income Needed
To keep principal and interest at 28% of income
$46,750
Median Household Income
Alabama: $63,999
2.0x
Price-to-Income Ratio
Alabama: 3.3x
$1,391/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$918/yr
Median Property Tax
Alabama figure
57.1%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
41.6%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Benton, Alabama. The rate is the Alabama average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the Benton Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Benton, Alabama score: 156.3 (Highly Affordable), ranked 251 of 446 Alabama cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/alabama/benton”