The median monthly housing cost in Alabama is $734 but – depending on where you call home – that figure can vary widely.

You can see that in a recent analysis of the Alabama Zip codes with the lowest and highest housing costs. The analysis, by UnitedStatesZipCodes.org, uses the latest figures from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey to estimate median monthly housing costs.

Monthly housing costs include the major items paid by homeowners – mortgage payments, real estate taxes, insurance, utilities, etc. – as well as things paid by renters, such as rent and utilities.

The 10 Zip codes with the lowest median monthly housing costs were:

1. 36538 - Frankville, $230
2. 35036 - Brookside, $269
3. 35149 - Sycamore, $282
4. 36432 - Castleberry, $292
5. 36749 - Jones, $323
6. 36913 - Melvin, $324
7. 36790 - Stanton, $330
8. 35552 - Detroit, $333
9. 35764 - Paint Rock, $341
10. 36475 - Repton, $342

The 10 Zip codes with the highest median monthly housing costs were

1. 35223 - Birmingham, $1,823
2. 36113 - Montgomery, $1,494
3. 35213 - Birmingham, $1,447
4. 36064 - Pike Road, $1,435
5. 36856 - Fort Mitchell, $1,385
6. 36205 - Anniston, $1,361
7. 35226 - Birmingham, $1,356
8. 36115 - Montgomery,$1,332
9. 36115 - Montgomery, $1,325
10. 36093 - Wetumpka, $1,319

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, housing is often the largest expense for households at around 33 percent - well above transportation (16 percent), food (13 percent), and healthcare (8 percent).

Source: "10 Alabama Zip codes with lowest housing costs and 10 with the highest" AL.com (November 18, 2019) Leada Gore