Valley Head is a small town of 810 in Alabama, with a median household income of $44,253
and a 6.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Valley Head stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Valley Head is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Valley Head 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: 86.5
Valley Head's overall cost of living index is 86.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Valley Head costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Valley Head, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$59,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$850
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
88.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$44,253
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Valley Head'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
Valley Head is served primarily by DeKalb County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1
.
Metric
Valley Head, 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
10.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Valley Head sees average highs of 49.9°F in January
and 86.9°F in July,
with 56.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 5.0 inches of snow per year.
Valley Head's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Valley Head roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $59,200 and median rent is $850/month.
Valley Head'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 Valley Head 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. 10.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Valley Head, AL has a population of 810, a median household income of $44,253, and an unemployment rate of 6.7%.
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 Head averages 49.9°F in January and 86.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 56.2 inches
with about 5.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Valley Head, Alabama is 810 with a median age of 40.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Valley Head: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $59,200, median household income $44,253, 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 Valley Head side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
