Wadley is a small town of 950 in Alabama, with a median household income of $25,000
and a 9.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is
15% below the national average.
Strengths:
Wadley stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Wadley is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Wadley 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: 84.6
Wadley's overall cost of living index is 84.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Wadley costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.
Metric
Wadley, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$121,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$433
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
53.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$25,000
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Wadley's violent crime rate is 334.5 per 100,000 residents
— 12% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
334.5 /100k
Property Crime
1839.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Wadley is served primarily by Randolph County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.7:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Wadley, AL
National Avg
School District
Randolph County
—
Elementary Schools
4
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
23.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
80.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Wadley sees average highs of 54.2°F in January
and 88.7°F in July,
with 57.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.6 inches of snow per year.
Wadley's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Wadley roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $121,300 and median rent is $433/month.
Wadley's violent crime rate is 334.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1839.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Wadley are operated by Randolph County.
The district has 4 elementary, several middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.7:1. 23.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Wadley, AL has a population of 950, a median household income of $25,000, and an unemployment rate of 9.3%.
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.
Wadley averages 54.2°F in January and 88.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.9 inches
with about 1.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Wadley, Alabama is 950 with a median age of 20.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Wadley: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $121,300, median household income $25,000, crime index 88 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wadley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
