Fort Payne is a small city of 14,815 in Alabama, with a median household income of $44,549
and a 6.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Fort Payne stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Fort Payne is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Fort Payne 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: 89.0
Fort Payne's overall cost of living index is 89.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Fort Payne costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Fort Payne, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$145,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$665
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
65.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$44,549
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Fort Payne's violent crime rate is 160.2 per 100,000 residents
— 58% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
160.2 /100k
Property Crime
1615.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Fort Payne is served primarily by Fort Payne City.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Fort Payne, AL
National Avg
School District
Fort Payne City
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
78.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Fort Payne sees average highs of 52.2°F in January
and 90.8°F in July,
with 59.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 5.0 inches of snow per year.
Fort Payne's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Fort Payne roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $145,600 and median rent is $665/month.
Fort Payne's violent crime rate is 160.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1615.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Fort Payne are operated by Fort Payne City.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1. 18.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Fort Payne, AL has a population of 14,815, a median household income of $44,549, and an unemployment rate of 6.1%.
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.
Fort Payne averages 52.2°F in January and 90.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 59.5 inches
with about 5.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Fort Payne, AL is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 35967, 35968.
The population of Fort Payne, Alabama is 14,815 with a median age of 39.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Fort Payne: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $145,600, median household income $44,549, crime index 56 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fort Payne side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
