What are the schools like in Hartselle, AL?

Hartselle is served primarily by Hartselle City. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.1:1.

What is the median household income in Hartselle?

The median household income in Hartselle, AL is $64,876 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.9%.

What is the weather like in Hartselle, AL?

Hartselle has an average high temperature of 52.4°F in January and 89.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 58.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 2.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Hartselle, AL affordable or expensive?

Hartselle's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hartselle is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $175,600 and the median rent is $775 per month.

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

Hartselle has a violent crime rate of 224.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2685.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Hartselle, AL a Good Place to Live?

Hartselle is a small city of 15,414 in Alabama, with a median household income of $64,876 and a 3.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Hartselle 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 Hartselle is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Hartselle 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

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

Metric	Hartselle, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$175,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$775	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$64,876	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Hartselle's violent crime rate is 224.8 per 100,000 residents — 41% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

224.8 /100k

Property Crime

2685.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Hartselle is served primarily by Hartselle City. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Hartselle, AL	National Avg
School District	Hartselle City	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	27.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hartselle sees average highs of 52.4°F in January and 89.3°F in July, with 58.8 inches of annual precipitation and 2.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hartselle, AL
Average High — January	52.4°F
Average High — July	89.3°F
Annual Precipitation	58.8"
Annual Snowfall	2.4"

Demographics

Metric	Hartselle, AL	National Avg
Population	15,414	—
Median Age	39.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	84.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	7.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	23.5%	22.2%
65 and over	17.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Falkville, AL 5 mi Priceville, AL 7 mi Somerville, AL 9 mi Decatur, AL 10 mi Eva, AL 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Hartselle

Hartselle, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

35640

Hartselle vs Other Cities

Hartselle, AL vs Falkville, AL Hartselle, AL vs Priceville, AL Hartselle, AL vs Somerville, AL Hartselle, AL vs Decatur, AL Hartselle, AL vs Eva, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hartselle, AL affordable or expensive?

Hartselle's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hartselle roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $175,600 and median rent is $775/month.

What is the crime rate in Hartselle, AL?

Hartselle's violent crime rate is 224.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2685.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Hartselle?

Public schools in Hartselle are operated by Hartselle City. The district has 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1. 27.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hartselle, AL a good place to live?

Hartselle, AL has a population of 15,414, a median household income of $64,876, and an unemployment rate of 3.9%. 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 Hartselle?

Hartselle averages 52.4°F in January and 89.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.8 inches with about 2.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hartselle?

Hartselle, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 35640.

What is the population of Hartselle?

The population of Hartselle, Alabama is 15,414 with a median age of 39.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hartselle?

Key numbers for living in Hartselle: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $175,600, median household income $64,876, crime index 87 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hartselle side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.