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CITY

Fort Payne

Alabama · 15,189 residents (2025 est.) · 56.406 sq mi
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The short version

Fort Payne has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $47,479. Population has grown 15% since 2000. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $157,000. The poverty rate of 32.5% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 26% less than the Alabama median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 27%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
14,927
+15%since 2000
from 12,938 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
265 / sq mi
+15%since 2000
from 229 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.4
+3%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:15,189 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
12K12K13K14K15K1990201020202024Fort Payne
202415K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$47,479
−22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,560 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,126
+33%since 2000
from $19,690 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
28.5%
+11.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
32.5%
+20.2 ptssince 2000
from 12.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.482
+8%since 2010
from 0.445 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade20.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade5.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$157,000
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $68,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$679
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $415 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 69.0% in 2000
30.7% rent
Vacancy rate
13.3%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.6%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
34.5%
+14.1 ptssince 2009
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.3
+63%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
38
RELATED:See current rent listings in Fort Payne on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic80.8%(10,455)
Black4.4%(570)
Hispanic / Latino12.2%(1,574)
Asian0.5%(71)
Other0%
Diversity Score37.7%(4,878)
2024
White, non-Hispanic71.5%(10,670)
Black1.3%(194)
Hispanic / Latino23.7%(3,538)
Asian0.2%(28)
Other3.3%(497)
Diversity Score53.9%(8,053)
Diversity Score
54
+43%since 2000
from 38 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.3%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
79.2%
+13.1 ptssince 2000
from 66.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.3%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.3 min
+51%since 2000
from 11.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.3%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 80.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.2%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 17.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.2%
+5.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.1%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.0%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 9.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.6%
−6.6 ptssince 2011
from 64.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.6%
−27.2 ptssince 2009
from 54.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.3%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
53.7%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
9.3%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.7%
−41.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2012
from 14.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
16.3%
−60.0 ptssince 2013
from 76.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.3%
+18.9 ptssince 2017
from 68.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
78.5%
−1.8 ptssince 2016
from 80.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
20.0%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 19.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Fort Payne to nearby cities

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Income$53,929+14%
Home value$190,400+21%
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FORT PAYNE VS
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FORT PAYNE VS
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Home value$199,200+27%
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FORT PAYNE VS
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Income$56,099+18%
Home value$188,400+20%
Population23,710+56%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Fort Payne, Alabama?

Fort Payne, Alabama has about 14,927 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Fort Payne, Alabama?

The typical household in Fort Payne, Alabama earns about $47,479 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Fort Payne, Alabama expensive?

In Fort Payne, Alabama, the median home is worth about $157,000, and the typical rent is about $679 a month.

How educated are people in Fort Payne, Alabama?

About 17.3% of adults age 25 and over in Fort Payne, Alabama hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Fort Payne, Alabama?

About 32.5% of people in Fort Payne, Alabama live below the federal poverty line.

Has Fort Payne, Alabama grown since 1990?

Yes, Fort Payne, Alabama has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,087 residents, a change of about 26 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →