Below Average CostNear National AverageChambers County
Valley City Hall Valley Alabama · Rivers A. Langley; http://www.phoenixrivers.blogspot.com / Public domainValley High School Valley Alabama · Rivers A. Langley; http://www.phoenixrivers.blogspot.com / Public domain
Valley is a small city of 10,442 in Alabama, with a median household income of $54,237
and a 2.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Valley 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 Valley is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Valley 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: 90.8
Valley's overall cost of living index is 90.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Valley costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Valley, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$113,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$979
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
63.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$54,237
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Valley's violent crime rate is 380.8 per 100,000 residents
— 0% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
380.8 /100k
Property Crime
3837.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Valley is served primarily by Chambers County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.2:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Valley, AL
National Avg
School District
Chambers County
—
Elementary Schools
4
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
13.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Valley sees average highs of 55.6°F in January
and 90.4°F in July,
with 52.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.1 inches of snow per year.
Valley's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Valley roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $113,200 and median rent is $979/month.
Valley's violent crime rate is 380.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3837.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Valley are operated by Chambers County.
The district has 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.2:1. 13.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Valley, AL has a population of 10,442, a median household income of $54,237, and an unemployment rate of 2.4%.
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.
Valley averages 55.6°F in January and 90.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.5 inches
with about 0.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Valley, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 36854.
The population of Valley, Alabama is 10,442 with a median age of 32.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Valley: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $113,200, median household income $54,237, crime index 133 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Valley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
