Sylvania is a small town of 1,971 in Alabama, with a median household income of $50,993
and a 3.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Sylvania stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Sylvania is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Sylvania 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: 87.5
Sylvania's overall cost of living index is 87.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Sylvania costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Sylvania, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$119,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$629
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
67.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$50,993
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Sylvania's violent crime rate is 74.1 per 100,000 residents
— 80% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
74.1 /100k
Property Crime
669.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Sylvania is served primarily by DeKalb County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1
.
Metric
Sylvania, 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
20.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
81.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Sylvania sees average highs of 52.2°F in January
and 90.8°F in July,
with 60.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 5.0 inches of snow per year.
Sylvania's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Sylvania roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $119,600 and median rent is $629/month.
Sylvania's violent crime rate is 74.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 669.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Sylvania 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. 20.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sylvania, AL has a population of 1,971, a median household income of $50,993, and an unemployment rate of 3.4%.
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.
Sylvania averages 52.2°F in January and 90.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 60.0 inches
with about 5.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Sylvania, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 35988.
The population of Sylvania, Alabama is 1,971 with a median age of 36.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sylvania: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $119,600, median household income $50,993, crime index 24 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sylvania side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
