Florence is a small city of 40,781 in Alabama, with a median household income of $47,048
and a 5.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Florence 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 Florence is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Florence 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
Florence's overall cost of living index is 85.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Florence costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Florence, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$168,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$757
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
49.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$47,048
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Florence's violent crime rate is 629.1 per 100,000 residents
— 66% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
629.1 /100k
Property Crime
2017.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Florence is served primarily by Florence City.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Florence, AL
National Avg
School District
Florence City
—
Elementary Schools
5
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
28.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Florence sees average highs of 50.5°F in January
and 89.2°F in July,
with 57.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.6 inches of snow per year.
Florence's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Florence roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $168,800 and median rent is $757/month.
Florence's violent crime rate is 629.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2017.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Florence are operated by Florence City.
The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1. 28.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Florence, AL has a population of 40,781, a median household income of $47,048, and an unemployment rate of 5.7%.
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.
Florence averages 50.5°F in January and 89.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.6 inches
with about 0.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Florence, AL is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 35630, 35632.
The population of Florence, Alabama is 40,781 with a median age of 34.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Florence: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $168,800, median household income $47,048, crime index 138 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Florence side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
