Rainsville is a small town of 5,545 in Alabama, with a median household income of $60,339
and a 1.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Rainsville 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 Rainsville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Rainsville 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: 89.7
Rainsville's overall cost of living index is 89.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Rainsville costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Rainsville, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$187,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$626
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
81.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$60,339
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Rainsville's violent crime rate is 17.1 per 100,000 residents
— 96% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
17.1 /100k
Property Crime
427.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Rainsville is served primarily by DeKalb County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1
.
Metric
Rainsville, AL
National Avg
School District
DeKalb County
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
25.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
82.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Rainsville sees average highs of 52.2°F in January
and 90.8°F in July,
with 57.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 5.0 inches of snow per year.
Rainsville's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Rainsville roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $187,800 and median rent is $626/month.
Rainsville's violent crime rate is 17.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 427.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Rainsville are operated by DeKalb County.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1. 25.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Rainsville, AL has a population of 5,545, a median household income of $60,339, and an unemployment rate of 1.2%.
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.
Rainsville averages 52.2°F in January and 90.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.9 inches
with about 5.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Rainsville, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 35986.
The population of Rainsville, Alabama is 5,545 with a median age of 44.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Rainsville: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $187,800, median household income $60,339, crime index 11 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Rainsville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
