United States › Alabama › Fort Payne CITY
Fort Payne Alabama · 15,189 residents (2025 est.) · 56.4 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Fort Payne is home to 14,927 people in Alabama. The poverty rate is 32.5%, above the 12.5% national rate. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $157,000. Median rent is $679 a month. That trails the Alabama median by roughly 26%.
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 from 12,938 in 2000
15,189 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 246 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
12K 12K 13K 14K 15K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Fort Payne Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $47,479
−22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,560 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $19,690 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 12.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.445 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 4.1%
Public administration 3.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 2%
Transportation & warehousing 1.8%
Education & health services 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$157,000
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $68,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$679
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $415 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 69.0% in 2000
30.7% rent
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.62 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.2 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 80.8%(10,455)
Hispanic / Latino 12.2%(1,574)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 71.5%(10,670)
Hispanic / Latino 23.7%(3,538)
from 49 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 7 more ancestry groups with data from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 66.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 80.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 17.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 9.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 64.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 64.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 14.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 23.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 68.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 87.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 86.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 80.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 19.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 30.5%(1,696)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 23.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 46.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 17.6% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 20.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 24.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 60.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 39.4% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 33.1%(208)
Gulf War (1990s) 14.2%(89)
Share of the 628 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Fort Payne Head to head
Compare Fort Payne to nearby cities FORT PAYNE VS
Scottsboro
Income $53,929 +14%
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FORT PAYNE VS
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FORT PAYNE VS
Boaz
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FORT PAYNE VS
Albertville
Income $56,099 +18%
Home value $188,400 +20%
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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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