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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

Stem, NC Housing Affordability Index

Stem, North Carolina has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 133.6 (Highly Affordable) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 151st most affordable of 587 scored North Carolina cities, compared with 104.6 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $240,500 home with 20% down, the North Carolina average 30-year fixed rate of 7.26% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $1,314, or 16% of the city’s $95,625 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Stem is updated every night from live North Carolina 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.

Stem MBR-HAI 133.6 Highly Affordable
Rank in North Carolina 151 of 587 1 = most affordable
North Carolina 104.6 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.26% North Carolina lenders
Median home value $240,500 U.S. Census Bureau

Stem is 29.0 points above the North Carolina score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the North Carolina index

View Stem Mortgage Rates

See What You Can Afford in Stem, North Carolina

Use this Stem, North Carolina home affordability calculator to see how much house you can afford at today’s North Carolina average 30-year mortgage rate of 7.26%. A household earning the Stem median income of $95,625, with no other debts and $48,000 down, can afford a home of about $305,986, compared with a median home value of $240,500. Buying the median priced home with 20% down takes a household income of about $68,500 once property tax and insurance are counted.

Stem median (Census)
Car, student loan, card minimums
Under 20% adds PMI
North Carolina average, 30-year fixed
Stem median bill (Census)
Estimate; use your quote
You can afford a home up to
$305,986
At or above the Stem median home value of $240,500
Loan amount$257,986
Principal & interest$1,762/mo
Property tax$235/mo
Home insurance$127/mo
PMI$107/mo
Total monthly payment$2,231/mo
Compare Stem Mortgage Rates

How much house can you afford in Stem?

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 Stem, property taxes run about 0.92% 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 $5,114 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 Stem

$1,314/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.26%
$56,300
Income Needed
To keep principal and interest at 28% of income
$95,625
Median Household Income
North Carolina: $72,388
2.5x
Price-to-Income Ratio
North Carolina: 4.0x
$1,346/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$2,215/yr
Median Property Tax
0.92% of median value
16.1%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
47.6%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

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

Cite the Stem Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Stem, North Carolina score: 133.6 (Highly Affordable), ranked 151 of 587 North Carolina cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/north-carolina/stem”