At a Glance
Median Income
$48,623
$27,039 per capita
Home Value
$158,100
Zillow: $198,051
Median Rent
$670/mo
27.0% of income on rent
Violent Crime
258/100K
2,704/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
17.5%
80.1% high school+
Unemployment
3.5%
16.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.5%
19.7% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
62°F
301 sunny days/yr
How Fort Payne Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Fort Payne's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Fort Payne a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.9 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Fort Payne residents earn a median household income of $48,623 , which is 35% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $27,039. The unemployment rate stands at 3.5% (3% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 16.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,482 business establishments, including 101 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Fort Payne is $158,100 , 44% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $198,051. Median rent is $670/month, with 27.0% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 88.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1978.
Safety & Crime
Fort Payne reports 258 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 32% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 2,704/100K.
Education
17.5% of adults in Fort Payne hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(48% below the national average).
80.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.2/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Fort Payne has an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C).
Winters average 42°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 58.0 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.
Data Overview
People
Population14,886
Median Age39.3 yrs
Density264/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans5.7%
Economy
B
Median Income$48,623
Per Capita$27,039
Unemployment3.5%
Poverty16.7%
County GDP$3,061M
Avg Weekly Wage$969
Housing
A+
Home Value$158,100
Rent$670
Ownership67.3%
Zillow$198,051
Housing Units6,596
Rent Burden27.0%
Crime
F
Violent258/100K
Property2,704/100K
Health
Obesity39.5%
Diabetes14.0%
Smoking19.7%
Heart Disease7.3%
Premature Death11,969/100K
Climate
Avg Temp62°F
Sunny Days301/yr
Rain58.0 in/yr
AQI41 (Good)
Elevation1,403 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+17.5%
High School+80.1%
Graduate+9.2%
School Score4.2/10
Community
2024 VoteR 87% / D 13%
Commute19 min
Broadband84.2%
Internet Speed167 Mbps
EV Stations4
Libraries7
Did You Know?
Fort Payne was founded in 1889.
The median home in Fort Payne was built in 1978.
The nearest airport is Richard B Russell Regional - J H Towers Field (31 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.456 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
16.2% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 167 Mbps.
There are 101 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 21 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.
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