Sheffield is a small town of 9,330 in Alabama, with a median household income of $39,666
and a 3.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Sheffield stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Sheffield is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Sheffield 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: 85.6
Sheffield's overall cost of living index is 85.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Sheffield costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Sheffield, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$120,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$765
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
58.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$39,666
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Sheffield's violent crime rate is 517.2 per 100,000 residents
— 36% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
517.2 /100k
Property Crime
1896.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Sheffield is served primarily by Sheffield City.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Sheffield, AL
National Avg
School District
Sheffield City
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
84.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Sheffield sees average highs of 50.8°F in January
and 90.0°F in July,
with 58.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.6 inches of snow per year.
Sheffield's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Sheffield roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $120,700 and median rent is $765/month.
Sheffield's violent crime rate is 517.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1896.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Sheffield are operated by Sheffield City.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 17.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sheffield, AL has a population of 9,330, a median household income of $39,666, and an unemployment rate of 3.8%.
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.
Sheffield averages 50.8°F in January and 90.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.5 inches
with about 0.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Sheffield, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 35660.
The population of Sheffield, Alabama is 9,330 with a median age of 42.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sheffield: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $120,700, median household income $39,666, crime index 118 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sheffield side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
