Gardendale is a small city of 16,051 in Alabama, with a median household income of $78,719
and a 1.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Gardendale 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:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Gardendale is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Gardendale 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: 92.6
Gardendale's overall cost of living index is 92.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Gardendale costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Gardendale, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$226,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,201
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
81.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$78,719
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Gardendale's violent crime rate is 192.2 per 100,000 residents
— 49% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
192.2 /100k
Property Crime
1593.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Gardendale is served primarily by Jefferson County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.4:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Gardendale, AL
National Avg
School District
Jefferson County
—
Elementary Schools
30
—
Middle Schools
11
—
High Schools
13
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
32.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Gardendale sees average highs of 53.5°F in January
and 90.2°F in July,
with 57.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.4 inches of snow per year.
Gardendale's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Gardendale roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $226,600 and median rent is $1,201/month.
Gardendale's violent crime rate is 192.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1593.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Gardendale are operated by Jefferson County.
The district has 30 elementary, 11 middle, and 13 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.4:1. 32.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Gardendale, AL has a population of 16,051, a median household income of $78,719, and an unemployment rate of 1.8%.
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.
Gardendale averages 53.5°F in January and 90.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.0 inches
with about 1.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Gardendale, AL is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 35071, 35119.
The population of Gardendale, Alabama is 16,051 with a median age of 39.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Gardendale: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $226,600, median household income $78,719, crime index 61 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Gardendale side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
