States › Alabama › Forestdale

Is Forestdale, AL expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 24 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,44718% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$71,795about $5,983/month · 18% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$164,00051% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 61% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $57,880 a year. That is $28 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Alabama cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Alabama. It is number 89 of 120 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Forestdale
$1,447
Fairfield
$1,283
Southside
$1,246
Pleasant Grove
$1,738
Fultondale
$1,335
Sheffield
$872
Clay
$2,357

How much do households earn in Forestdale?

Under $25k
16.6%
$25k–50k
23.7%
$50k–100k
34.5%
$100k–150k
13.7%
$150k+
4.7%

Share of households by yearly income. 18.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Forestdale

SizeForestdaleU.S. average
2 bedrooms$1,015$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,526$1,698
4 bedrooms$1,233$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Forestdale overall?

Everyday prices in Alabama overall are 11% below the U.S. average (index 88.8, U.S. = 100).

Housing
62
Goods (food, clothes…)
96
Utilities
85
Other services
97
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Forestdale, so the Alabama figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Forestdale

🏛️ Property tax$759a year · 0.46% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$213a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Forestdale

Commute to work26 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree27.5%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home69%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line17.8%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment5.5%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Forestdale?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $309 a month less than renting.

Renting
$1,447
Owning
$1,138

Owning assumes a typical $164,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $16,400 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Forestdale, AL?

Renting in Forestdale costs a median of about $1,447 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Alabama median is $1,175.

How much do I need to make to live in Forestdale?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $57,880 a year, or $28 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Forestdale cheap or expensive?

Forestdale is rated OK: rent takes 24.2% of the typical household income of $71,795. It ranks 89th cheapest of 120 Alabama cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Forestdale?

The median homeowner in Forestdale pays $759 a year in property taxes, about 0.46% of the median home value.

Is Forestdale more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Alabama are 11% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Forestdale?

The median home value in Forestdale is $164,000, about 2.3 times the typical yearly household income.

9,742 people live in Forestdale. Numbers are typical (middle) values.