Camden is a small town of 2,149 in Alabama, with a median household income of $35,583
and a 11.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is
16% below the national average.
Strengths:
Camden stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Camden is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Camden 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: 84.4
Camden's overall cost of living index is 84.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Camden costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.
Metric
Camden, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$85,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$520
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
79.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$35,583
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Camden's violent crime rate is 180.0 per 100,000 residents
— 53% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
180.0 /100k
Property Crime
779.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Camden is served primarily by Wilcox County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.4:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Camden, AL
National Avg
School District
Wilcox County
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
74.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Camden sees average highs of 58.3°F in January
and 92.1°F in July,
with 58.9 inches of annual precipitation
.
Camden's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Camden roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $85,800 and median rent is $520/month.
Camden's violent crime rate is 180.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 779.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Camden are operated by Wilcox County.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.4:1. 21.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Camden, AL has a population of 2,149, a median household income of $35,583, and an unemployment rate of 11.7%.
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.
Camden averages 58.3°F in January and 92.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.9 inches
.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Camden, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 36726.
The population of Camden, Alabama is 2,149 with a median age of 34.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Camden: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $85,800, median household income $35,583, crime index 43 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Camden side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
