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Moving Guides/Fort Payne

Moving to Fort Payne

What you need to know before relocating to Fort Payne, Alabama. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.

Is Fort Payne a Good Place to Live?

Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Fort Payne compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($659/mo) is below the national average; home prices ($156,800) are well below the us median; low unemployment rate (2.2%) signals a strong job market.

Fort Payne at a Glance

Population
73K
Median Income
$43,509
Median Rent
$659/mo
Median Home Price
$156,800
Unemployment
2.2%
Avg Commute
27848 min

Cost of Living in Fort Payne

The median rent in Fort Payne is $659/month, while the median home value is $156,800. With a median household income of $43,509, residents spend roughly 18% of monthly income on rent.

Overall, the Fort Payne metro area is classified as very affordable compared to other US metros.

Rent vs. National Avg
53% below
Home Price vs. National Avg
49% below

Job Market

Fort Payne has a median household income of $43,509, which is 42% below the national median. The local unemployment rate is 2.2%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.

Safety in Fort Payne

The violent crime rate in Fort Payne is 404 per 100,000 residents, which is 6% above the national average of 380.

Property crime rate: 1699 per 100,000 residents.

Education in Alabama

Alabama has a high school graduation rate of 89% and per-pupil spending of $13,461/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1.

30% of Alabama adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Healthcare Access

Alabama has 224 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 9.2% uninsured rate, and 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Alabama is 74.8 years.

Pros and Cons of Living in Fort Payne

+Pros

  • Rent ($659/mo) is below the national average
  • Home prices ($156,800) are well below the US median
  • Low unemployment rate (2.2%) signals a strong job market

-Cons

  • Median household income ($43,509) trails the national median
  • Longer-than-average commute (27848 min)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fort Payne a good place to live?

Fort Payne, Alabama has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($659/mo) is below the national average and home prices ($156,800) are well below the us median. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.

What is the cost of living in Fort Payne?

The median rent in Fort Payne is $659/month and the median home value is $156,800. The median household income is $43,509. Overall the metro is considered very affordable.

Is Fort Payne safe?

Fort Payne has a violent crime rate of 404 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

What is the job market like in Fort Payne?

Fort Payne has an unemployment rate of 2.2%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $43,509.

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