Below Average CostSafer than AveragePickens County
Pickens County Courthouse 2 · Calvin Beale / Public domainHistoric American Buildings Survey Alex Bush, Photographer, April 14, 1937 SOUTH (FRONT) AND WEST ELEVATION - Phoenix Hotel, Phoenix Street, Carrollton, Pickens County, AL HABS ALA,54-CARL,2-1 · Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
Carrollton is a small town of 1,043 in Alabama, with a median household income of $28,919
and a 8.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Carrollton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Carrollton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Carrollton 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
Carrollton's overall cost of living index is 90.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Carrollton costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Carrollton, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$132,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$460
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
59.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$28,919
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Carrollton's violent crime rate is 414.5 per 100,000 residents
— 9% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
414.5 /100k
Property Crime
414.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Carrollton is served primarily by Pickens County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.7:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Carrollton, AL
National Avg
School District
Pickens County
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
84.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Carrollton sees average highs of 54.9°F in January
and 90.9°F in July,
with 58.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.4 inches of snow per year.
Carrollton's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Carrollton roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $132,300 and median rent is $460/month.
Carrollton's violent crime rate is 414.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 414.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Carrollton are operated by Pickens County.
The district has 3 elementary, several middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.7:1. 16.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Carrollton, AL has a population of 1,043, a median household income of $28,919, and an unemployment rate of 8.5%.
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.
Carrollton averages 54.9°F in January and 90.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.1 inches
with about 0.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Carrollton, Alabama is 1,043 with a median age of 31.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Carrollton: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $132,300, median household income $28,919, crime index 73 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carrollton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
