Helena Listed Among Most Affordable Cities In Alabama

SHELBY COUNTY, AL - A recent study of the most affordable cities in the country revealed that Helena is among the five most affordable cities in Alabama.

New York financial technology company SmartAsset listed the Shelby County city at number four on the list. SmartAsset found the total cost over five years of four expenses—closing costs, taxes, insurance and mortgage payments—for the average home in every county in the U.S., and every city with a population greater than 5,000. SmartAsset then took that five-year cost as a proportion of median household income in each county and city to determine affordability.

The study found the most affordable cities and counties were those in which total housing costs on an average house accounted for the smallest proportion of the median income.

Helena was listed with an annual property tax of $885, annual homeowner’s insurance of $1,996 and an average annual mortgage payment of $8,577. The median income was listed at $84,888.

Fellow Shelby County community Calera came in at No. 8 with an annual property tax of $782, annual homeowner’s insurance of $1,491 and an average annual mortgage payment of $6,408. The median income was listed at $63,396.

Photo of Buck Creek in Helena via YouTube