salaryRent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.1 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 17.3 minutes.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $28,560 a year. That is $14 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Alabama cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Alabama. It is number 12 of 120 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Fort Payne?
Share of households by yearly income. 13.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Fort Payne
| Size | Fort Payne | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $529 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $702 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $899 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $763 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Fort Payne overall?
Everyday prices in Alabama overall are 11% below the U.S. average (index 88.8, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Fort Payne, so the Alabama figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Fort Payne
Life in Fort Payne
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Fort Payne?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $375 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $157,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $15,700 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Fort Payne, AL?
Renting in Fort Payne costs a median of about $714 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Alabama median is $1,175.
How much do I need to make to live in Fort Payne?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $28,560 a year, or $14 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Fort Payne cheap or expensive?
Fort Payne is rated Cheap: rent takes 16.7% of the typical household income of $51,206. It ranks 12th cheapest of 120 Alabama cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Fort Payne?
The median homeowner in Fort Payne pays $531 a year in property taxes, about 0.34% of the median home value.
Is Fort Payne 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 Fort Payne?
The median home value in Fort Payne is $157,000, about 3.1 times the typical yearly household income.
14,927 people live in Fort Payne. Numbers are typical (middle) values.