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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.

Explore More About Fort Payne