Fort Payne, AL Cost Of Living

Demographics | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

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 85, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Fort Payne is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • Fort Payne ranks as the #23 cheapest in Alabama out of 115.

  • Fort Payne ranks as the #777 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Fort Payne is $134,700.

  • The median income in Fort Payne is $44,330.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
85
Fort Payne's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
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 85, which is 0.8x 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 88.

The standard of living in Fort Payne ranks as #23 most affordable out of the 115 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Fort Payne ranks as the #92 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.

For more reading on life in Fort Payne, check out:

23 out of 115
In Alabama
777 out of 6,412
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 91.

  • The Groceries index in Fort Payne is 102.

  • The Health index in Fort Payne is 93.

  • The Housing index in Fort Payne is 64.

  • The Transportation index in Fort Payne is 90.

  • The Utilities index in Fort Payne is 93.

Living Expense Fort Payne Alabama National Average
Overall 85 88 100
Services 91 95 100
Groceries 102 97 100
Health 93 88 100
Housing 64 69 100
Transportation 90 90 100
Utilities 93 101 100
For more reading on cost of living around Alabama, check out:
Fort Payne Cost of Living Vs. AL

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 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Fort Payne is $134,700.

  • The Median Rent in Fort Payne is $626.

  • The Median Income in Fort Payne is $44,330.

  • The Home Value To Income in Fort Payne is 3.0x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Fort Payne is 0.17x.

Statistic Fort Payne Alabama United States
Median Home Value $134,700 $157,100 $244,900
Median Rent $626 $852 $1,163
Median Income $44,330 $54,943 $69,021
Home Value To Income 3.0x 2.9x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.17x 0.19x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Fort Payne, AL
$134,700
Median Home Value
$626
Median Rent
$44,330
Median Income

Fort Payne, AL Costs By Category

Detailed Fort Payne Services Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Fort Payne Alabama
Shampoo $0.9 $1.06
Movie $12.32 $10.68
Bowling $15.0 $14.67
Haircut $14.67 $18.62
Beauty Salon $43.33 $39.05

Detailed Fort Payne Groceries Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Fort Payne Alabama
Ground Beef $4.62 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.22 $1.39
Milk $2.15 $2.05
Potatoes $4.94 $3.29
Pizza $9.99 $10.62
Beer $9.97 $9.38
Toothpaste $1.91 $2.34

Detailed Fort Payne Health Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Fort Payne Alabama
Optometrist $93.33 $108.57
Doctor $118.67 $116.17
Dentist $89.33 $99.13

Detailed Fort Payne Transportation Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Fort Payne Alabama
Gasoline $1.94 $2.22
Tire Balancing $46.47 $50.07

Detailed Fort Payne Utilities Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Fort Payne Alabama
All Electricity $141.03 $167.67
Phone $184.96 $175.64

Fort Payne SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
5/10
Housing
5
Affordability
8
Diversity
8
Safety
N/A
Amenities
7
Education
5
Commute
8.5

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 91, 1.1x Fort Payne.

  • Rome, GA has a cost of living index of 90, 1.1x Fort Payne.

  • Gadsden, AL has a cost of living index of 81, 1.0x Fort Payne.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Fort Payne
Chattanooga, TN 180,353 91 1.1x
Rome, GA 37,509 90 1.1x
Gadsden, AL 34,317 81 1.0x
Dalton, GA 34,255 88 1.0x
East Ridge, TN 21,967 88 1.0x
Jacksonville, AL 13,076 86 1.0x
Fort Oglethorpe, GA 10,196 85 1.0x
Cedartown, GA 10,091 82 1.0x
Fairview, GA 5,752 80 0.9x
Rainsville, AL 5,466 89 1.0x

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