Fort Payne, AL Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Fort Payne, AL Summary
Cost of living in Fort Payne research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Fort Payne is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Alabama, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Fort Payne is 86, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Fort Payne is 0.9x lower than the national average.
Fort Payne ranks as the #23 cheapest in Alabama out of 119.
Fort Payne ranks as the #639 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Fort Payne is $194,890.
The median income in Fort Payne is $48,623.
Table Of Contents
Fort Payne's Overall Cost Of Living
Lower Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Fort Payne, AL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fort Payne has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Alabama, Fort Payne has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Alabama's index of 90.
The standard of living in Fort Payne ranks as #23 most affordable out of the 119 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Fort Payne ranks as the #96 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.
For more reading on life in Fort Payne, check out:
In Alabama
In America
Fort Payne Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fort Payne. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fort Payne is 88.
The Groceries index in Fort Payne is 95.
The Health index in Fort Payne is 90.
The Housing index in Fort Payne is 66.
The Transportation index in Fort Payne is 89.
The Utilities index in Fort Payne is 95.
| Living Expense | Fort Payne | Alabama | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | 90 | 100 | |
| Services | 88 | 97 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 95 | 98 | 100 | |
| Health | 90 | 86 | 100 | |
| Housing | 66 | 74 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 89 | 93 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 95 | 102 | 100 | |
Fort Payne, AL Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Alabama, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Fort Payne is $194,890.
The Median Rent in Fort Payne is $670.
The Median Income in Fort Payne is $48,623.
The Home Value To Income in Fort Payne is 4.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fort Payne is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Fort Payne | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $194,890 | $232,780 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $670 | $963 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $48,623 | $62,027 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.0x | 3.8x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Fort Payne, AL Costs By Category
Detailed Fort Payne Services Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Fort Payne | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.57 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.47 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.8 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $48.4 | $45.56 |
Detailed Fort Payne Groceries Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Fort Payne | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.63 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.43 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.49 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.17 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.66 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.02 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.66 | $3.7 |
Detailed Fort Payne Health Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Fort Payne | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $129.61 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $96.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fort Payne Transportation Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Fort Payne | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.09 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fort Payne Utilities Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Fort Payne | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $170.16 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $192.18 | $192.25 |
Fort Payne SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fort Payne
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fort Payne. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Chattanooga, TN has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Fort Payne.
Rome, GA has a cost of living index of 91, 1.1x Fort Payne.
Dalton, GA has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Fort Payne.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fort Payne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN | 182,832 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Rome, GA | 37,754 | 91 | 1.1x |
| Dalton, GA | 34,402 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Gadsden, AL | 33,617 | 84 | 1.0x |
| East Ridge, TN | 22,034 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Jacksonville, AL | 14,345 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Fort Oglethorpe, GA | 10,332 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Cedartown, GA | 10,211 | 84 | 1.0x |
| Fairview, GA | 5,620 | 85 | 1.0x |
| Rainsville, AL | 5,613 | 90 | 1.0x |
