Hayden is a small town of 1,579 in Alabama, with a median household income of $80,221
and a 2.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Hayden stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Hayden is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Hayden 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
Hayden's overall cost of living index is 92.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Hayden costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Hayden, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$205,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,167
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
91.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$80,221
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Hayden's violent crime rate is 147.2 per 100,000 residents
— 61% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
147.2 /100k
Property Crime
1545.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Hayden is served primarily by Blount County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.2:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Hayden, AL
National Avg
School District
Blount County
—
Elementary Schools
6
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
6
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Hayden sees average highs of 50.9°F in January
and 88.2°F in July,
with 60.3 inches of annual precipitation
.
Hayden's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Hayden roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $205,300 and median rent is $1,167/month.
Hayden's violent crime rate is 147.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1545.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Hayden are operated by Blount County.
The district has 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 6 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.2:1. 19.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Hayden, AL has a population of 1,579, a median household income of $80,221, and an unemployment rate of 2.2%.
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.
Hayden averages 50.9°F in January and 88.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 60.3 inches
.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Hayden, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 35079.
The population of Hayden, Alabama is 1,579 with a median age of 38.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Hayden: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $205,300, median household income $80,221, crime index 53 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hayden side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.