Anniston, Alabama · Rivers Langley; SaveRivers / CC BY-SA 3.0Young sweeper working in Anniston Yarn Mills. Anniston, Ala. - NARA - 523357 · Lewis Hine / Public domain249 The Other Bus · Mark Michalovic / CC BY-SA 3.0World's Largest Chair, Anniston, Alabama · Qqqqqq (talk) / CC BY-SA 3.0
Anniston is a small city of 21,502 in Alabama, with a median household income of $45,642
and a 5.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Anniston stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Anniston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Anniston city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 90.0
Anniston's overall cost of living index is 90.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Anniston costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Anniston, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$131,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$806
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
61.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$45,642
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Anniston's violent crime rate is 845.5 per 100,000 residents
— 123% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
845.5 /100k
Property Crime
4365.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Anniston is served primarily by Anniston City.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.9:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Anniston, AL
National Avg
School District
Anniston City
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
22.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
85.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Anniston sees average highs of 54.7°F in January
and 90.2°F in July,
with 52.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.1 inches of snow per year.
Anniston's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Anniston roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $131,800 and median rent is $806/month.
Anniston's violent crime rate is 845.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4365.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Anniston are operated by Anniston City.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.9:1. 22.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Anniston, AL has a population of 21,502, a median household income of $45,642, and an unemployment rate of 5.5%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Anniston averages 54.7°F in January and 90.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.1 inches
with about 0.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Anniston, AL is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 36201, 36205.
The population of Anniston, Alabama is 21,502 with a median age of 42.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Anniston: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $131,800, median household income $45,642, crime index 217 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Anniston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
