What are the schools like in Red Bay, AL?

Red Bay is served primarily by Franklin County. The district operates 3 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.3:1.

What is the median household income in Red Bay?

The median household income in Red Bay, AL is $33,234 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.6%.

What is the weather like in Red Bay, AL?

Red Bay has an average high temperature of 50.9°F in January and 89.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 58.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Red Bay, AL affordable or expensive?

Red Bay's cost of living index is 84, where 100 represents the national average. This means Red Bay is 16% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $88,600 and the median rent is $478 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Red Bay, AL?

Red Bay has a violent crime rate of 221.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1325.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Red Bay, AL a Good Place to Live?

Red Bay is a small town of 3,210 in Alabama, with a median household income of $33,234 and a 3.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is 16% below the national average.

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

All Red Bay 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: 83.9

Red Bay's overall cost of living index is 83.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Red Bay costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.

Metric	Red Bay, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$88,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$478	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	61.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$33,234	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Red Bay's violent crime rate is 221.0 per 100,000 residents — 42% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

221.0 /100k

Property Crime

1325.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Red Bay is served primarily by Franklin County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Red Bay, AL	National Avg
School District	Franklin County	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	15.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	81.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Red Bay sees average highs of 50.9°F in January and 89.3°F in July, with 58.0 inches of annual precipitation and 1.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Red Bay, AL
Average High — January	50.9°F
Average High — July	89.3°F
Annual Precipitation	58.0"
Annual Snowfall	1.6"

Demographics

Metric	Red Bay, AL	National Avg
Population	3,210	—
Median Age	46.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	21.6%	22.2%
65 and over	22.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Golden, MS 4 mi Vina, AL 6 mi Belmont, MS 6 mi Dennis, MS 10 mi Hodges, AL 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Red Bay

Red Bay, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

35582

Red Bay vs Other Cities

Red Bay, AL vs Golden, MS Red Bay, AL vs Vina, AL Red Bay, AL vs Belmont, MS Red Bay, AL vs Dennis, MS Red Bay, AL vs Hodges, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Red Bay, AL affordable or expensive?

Red Bay's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average. That makes Red Bay roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $88,600 and median rent is $478/month.

What is the crime rate in Red Bay, AL?

Red Bay's violent crime rate is 221.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1325.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Red Bay?

Public schools in Red Bay are operated by Franklin County. The district has 3 elementary, several middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1. 15.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Red Bay, AL a good place to live?

Red Bay, AL has a population of 3,210, a median household income of $33,234, and an unemployment rate of 3.6%. 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 Red Bay?

Red Bay averages 50.9°F in January and 89.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.0 inches with about 1.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Red Bay?

Red Bay, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 35582.

What is the population of Red Bay?

The population of Red Bay, Alabama is 3,210 with a median age of 46.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Red Bay?

Key numbers for living in Red Bay: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $88,600, median household income $33,234, crime index 60 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Red Bay side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.