Shorter is a small town of 344 in Alabama, with a median household income of $32,917
and a 13.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is
16% below the national average.
Strengths:
Shorter stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Shorter is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Shorter 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: 83.7
Shorter's overall cost of living index is 83.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Shorter costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.
Metric
Shorter, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$81,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$492
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
77.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$32,917
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Shorter's violent crime rate is 487.0 per 100,000 residents
— 28% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
487.0 /100k
Property Crime
979.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Shorter is served primarily by Macon County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.6:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Shorter, AL
National Avg
School District
Macon County
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
10.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
76.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Shorter sees average highs of 56.8°F in January
and 90.4°F in July,
with 54.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.3 inches of snow per year.
Shorter's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Shorter roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $81,300 and median rent is $492/month.
Shorter's violent crime rate is 487.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 979.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Shorter are operated by Macon County.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.6:1. 10.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Shorter, AL has a population of 344, a median household income of $32,917, and an unemployment rate of 13.1%.
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.
Shorter averages 56.8°F in January and 90.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 54.0 inches
with about 0.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Shorter, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 36075.
The population of Shorter, Alabama is 344 with a median age of 59.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Shorter: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $81,300, median household income $32,917, crime index 96 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Shorter side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
