What are the schools like in Decatur, AL?

Decatur is served primarily by Decatur City. The district operates 12 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 6 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.0:1.

What is the median household income in Decatur?

The median household income in Decatur, AL is $55,164 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.1%.

What is the weather like in Decatur, AL?

Decatur has an average high temperature of 52.4°F in January and 89.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 58.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.1 inches.

Decatur, AL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Decatur, AL affordable or expensive?

Decatur's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Decatur is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $170,000 and the median rent is $801 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Decatur, AL?

Decatur has a violent crime rate of 606.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2308.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Decatur, AL a Good Place to Live?

Decatur is a mid-sized city of 57,525 in Alabama, with a median household income of $55,164 and a 5.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Decatur stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Decatur is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Decatur 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

Decatur's overall cost of living index is 90.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Decatur costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Decatur, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$170,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$801	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	63.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$55,164	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Decatur's violent crime rate is 606.7 per 100,000 residents — 60% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

606.7 /100k

Property Crime

2308.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Decatur is served primarily by Decatur City. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Decatur, AL	National Avg
School District	Decatur City	—
Elementary Schools	12	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	6	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	83.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Decatur sees average highs of 52.4°F in January and 89.3°F in July, with 58.0 inches of annual precipitation and 1.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Decatur, AL
Average High — January	52.4°F
Average High — July	89.3°F
Annual Precipitation	58.0"
Annual Snowfall	1.1"

Demographics

Metric	Decatur, AL	National Avg
Population	57,525	—
Median Age	40.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	62.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	24.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	10.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.6%	6.3%
Under 18	23.3%	22.2%
65 and over	19.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Trinity, AL 5 mi Priceville, AL 7 mi Mooresville, AL 7 mi Hartselle, AL 10 mi Hillsboro, AL 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Decatur

Decatur, AL is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

35603 35601 35671

Decatur vs Other Cities

Decatur, AL vs Trinity, AL Decatur, AL vs Priceville, AL Decatur, AL vs Mooresville, AL Decatur, AL vs Hartselle, AL Decatur, AL vs Hillsboro, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Decatur, AL affordable or expensive?

Decatur's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Decatur roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $170,000 and median rent is $801/month.

What is the crime rate in Decatur, AL?

Decatur's violent crime rate is 606.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2308.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Decatur?

Public schools in Decatur are operated by Decatur City. The district has 12 elementary, 2 middle, and 6 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.0:1. 23.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Decatur, AL a good place to live?

Decatur, AL has a population of 57,525, a median household income of $55,164, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%. 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.

What is the weather like in Decatur?

Decatur averages 52.4°F in January and 89.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.0 inches with about 1.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Decatur?

Decatur, AL is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 35603, 35601, 35671.

What is the population of Decatur?

The population of Decatur, Alabama is 57,525 with a median age of 40.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Decatur?

Key numbers for living in Decatur: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $170,000, median household income $55,164, crime index 140 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Decatur side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.