Below Average CostSafer than AverageTuscaloosa City
Median Income
$54,688
household / year
Median Home Value
$108,700
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$883
gross / month
Cost of Living
90
national avg = 100
Is Cottondale, AL a Good Place to Live?
Cottondale is a small town of 3,211 in Alabama, with a median household income of $54,688
and a 5.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Cottondale stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Cottondale is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Cottondale 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
Cottondale's overall cost of living index is 90.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Cottondale costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Cottondale, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$108,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$883
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
78.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$54,688
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Cottondale's violent crime rate is 313.3 per 100,000 residents
— 18% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
313.3 /100k
Property Crime
1522.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Cottondale is served primarily by Tuscaloosa City.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.1:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Cottondale, AL
National Avg
School District
Tuscaloosa City
—
Elementary Schools
12
—
Middle Schools
4
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
11.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
86.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Cottondale sees average highs of 56.0°F in January
and 92.2°F in July,
with 58.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.3 inches of snow per year.
Cottondale's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Cottondale roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $108,700 and median rent is $883/month.
Cottondale's violent crime rate is 313.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1522.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Cottondale are operated by Tuscaloosa City.
The district has 12 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.1:1. 11.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Cottondale, AL has a population of 3,211, a median household income of $54,688, and an unemployment rate of 5.3%.
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.
Cottondale averages 56.0°F in January and 92.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.1 inches
with about 0.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Cottondale, Alabama is 3,211 with a median age of 43.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Cottondale: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $108,700, median household income $54,688, crime index 78 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cottondale side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.