Cherokee is a small town of 890 in Alabama, with a median household income of $50,446
and a 7.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Cherokee stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Cherokee is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Cherokee 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: 85.6
Cherokee's overall cost of living index is 85.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Cherokee costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Cherokee, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$92,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$831
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
73.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$50,446
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Cherokee's violent crime rate is 273.3 per 100,000 residents
— 28% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
273.3 /100k
Property Crime
1754.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Cherokee is served primarily by Colbert County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Cherokee, AL
National Avg
School District
Colbert County
—
Elementary Schools
5
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
11.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Cherokee sees average highs of 49.4°F in January
and 88.4°F in July,
with 59.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.6 inches of snow per year.
Cherokee's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Cherokee roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $92,700 and median rent is $831/month.
Cherokee's violent crime rate is 273.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1754.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Cherokee are operated by Colbert County.
The district has 5 elementary, several middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1. 11.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Cherokee, AL has a population of 890, a median household income of $50,446, and an unemployment rate of 7.5%.
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.
Cherokee averages 49.4°F in January and 88.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 59.8 inches
with about 0.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Cherokee, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 35616.
The population of Cherokee, Alabama is 890 with a median age of 47.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Cherokee: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $92,700, median household income $50,446, crime index 77 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cherokee side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
