Gadsden, Alabama - Aerial (51157939914) · formulanone / CC BY-SA 2.0Gadsden, AL, Spirit of American Citizenship Monument, with Coosa River · Prestinian at en.wikipedia / Public domain
Gadsden is a small city of 33,881 in Alabama, with a median household income of $39,696
and a 8.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Gadsden stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Gadsden is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Gadsden 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: 88.1
Gadsden's overall cost of living index is 88.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Gadsden costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Gadsden, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$96,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$765
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
55.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$39,696
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Gadsden's violent crime rate is 581.6 per 100,000 residents
— 53% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
581.6 /100k
Property Crime
2577.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Gadsden is served primarily by Gadsden City.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.9:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Gadsden, AL
National Avg
School District
Gadsden City
—
Elementary Schools
9
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
83.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Gadsden sees average highs of 52.8°F in January
and 90.9°F in July,
with 57.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.2 inches of snow per year.
Gadsden's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Gadsden roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $96,900 and median rent is $765/month.
Gadsden's violent crime rate is 581.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2577.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Gadsden are operated by Gadsden City.
The district has 9 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.9:1. 15.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Gadsden, AL has a population of 33,881, a median household income of $39,696, and an unemployment rate of 8.8%.
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.
Gadsden averages 52.8°F in January and 90.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.6 inches
with about 0.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Gadsden, AL is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 35904, 35901.
The population of Gadsden, Alabama is 33,881 with a median age of 39.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Gadsden: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $96,900, median household income $39,696, crime index 141 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Gadsden side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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