At a Glance
Median Income
$59,659
$39,153 per capita
Home Value
$203,600
Zillow: $254,337
Median Rent
$998/mo
40.3% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
21.8%
84.9% high school+
Unemployment
8.6%
7.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.9%
16.5% smoking rate
How Rainbow City Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Rainbow City's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Rainbow City a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.5 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Rainbow City residents earn a median household income of $59,659 , which is 21% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $39,153. The unemployment rate stands at 8.6% (139% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 7.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,943 business establishments, including 131 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Rainbow City is $203,600 , 28% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $254,337. Median rent is $998/month, with 40.3% 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 1985.
Education
21.8% of adults in Rainbow City hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(35% below the national average).
84.9% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.0/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Rainbow City has an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C).
Winters average 43°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 57.6 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population10,213
Median Age40.2 yrs
Density398/mi²
Male / Female45% / 55%
Foreign Born5.6%
Veterans7.4%
Economy
B
Median Income$59,659
Per Capita$39,153
Unemployment8.6%
Poverty7.7%
County GDP$3,156M
Avg Weekly Wage$989
Housing
A+
Home Value$203,600
Rent$998
Ownership64.1%
Zillow$254,337
Housing Units4,524
Rent Burden40.3%
Health
Obesity40.9%
Diabetes12.0%
Smoking16.5%
Heart Disease6.1%
Premature Death11,878/100K
Climate
Avg Temp63°F
Rain57.6 in/yr
Elevation571 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+21.8%
High School+84.9%
Graduate+9.2%
School Score5.0/10
Community
2024 VoteR 82% / D 18%
Commute26 min
Broadband88.4%
Internet Speed98 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries7
Did You Know?
The median home in Rainbow City was built in 1985.
The nearest airport is Northeast Alabama Regional (3 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.408 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
19.1% of the population has a disability.
There are 131 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 25 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.