Arab is a small town of 8,552 in Alabama, with a median household income of $56,471
and a 3.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Arab stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Arab is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Arab 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: 90.1
Arab's overall cost of living index is 90.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Arab costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Arab, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$183,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$667
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
67.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$56,471
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Arab's violent crime rate is 256.7 per 100,000 residents
— 32% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
256.7 /100k
Property Crime
3549.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Arab is served primarily by Arab City.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.0:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Arab, AL
National Avg
School District
Arab City
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
23.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Arab sees average highs of 50.4°F in January
and 88.9°F in July,
with 57.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.7 inches of snow per year.
Arab's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Arab roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $183,800 and median rent is $667/month.
Arab's violent crime rate is 256.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3549.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Arab are operated by Arab City.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.0:1. 23.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Arab, AL has a population of 8,552, a median household income of $56,471, and an unemployment rate of 3.0%.
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.
Arab averages 50.4°F in January and 88.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.5 inches
with about 0.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Arab, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 35016.
The population of Arab, Alabama is 8,552 with a median age of 38.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Arab: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $183,800, median household income $56,471, crime index 108 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Arab side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
