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MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2010 ACS

Fort Payne Micro

Fort Payne, AL · 1 counties · 71,109 residents · 777.077 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 $35,065. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value is $84,400.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Mid-age
median age 37.5
US median: 37.2
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
71,109
+10%since 2000
from 64,452 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
92 / sq mi
+10%since 2000
from 83 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
37.5
+3%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
53K58K63K69K74K1990201020202024Fort Payne
202472K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$35,065
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,137 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$18,152
+15%since 2000
from $15,818 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
16.0%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
20.0%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 15.4% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.454
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade31.7%
US avg: 10.9%
Information11.5%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade6.5%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4%
US avg: 7%
Transportation & warehousing3.4%
US avg: 3.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 4.2%
Public administration3.2%
US avg: 4.9%
Construction3.2%
US avg: 1.4%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 2.4%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$84,400
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $61,700 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$514
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $370 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
38.5%
−40.2 ptssince 2000
from 78.7% in 2000
24.8% rent
Vacancy rate
15.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
22.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 21.7% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
31.4%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 27.7% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.4
+18%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Fort Payne on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.7%(58,436)
Black1.7%(1,064)
Hispanic / Latino5.6%(3,578)
Asian0.2%(105)
Other0%
Diversity Score17.6%(11,370)
2010
White, non-Hispanic81.6%(57,997)
Black1.4%(1,029)
Hispanic / Latino13.6%(9,690)
Asian0.2%(166)
Other3%(2,125)
Diversity Score39.1%(27,834)
Diversity Score
39
+122%since 2000
from 18 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
10.9%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 8.3% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
68.1%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 63.8% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
4.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.1 min
+43%since 2000
from 16.2 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
81.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 81.2% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
13.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
2.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
1.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
5.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
10.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
21.8%
−30.6 ptssince 2009
from 52.4% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Female
50.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Foreign born
7.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
8.7%
−39.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
In this metro

Principal cities

Fort PayneCENTRAL15,189
What's inside

1 component county

DeKalb CountyCENTRAL74,085
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Fort Payne

Columbus
Pop 67,144
Laurel
Pop 82,281
Forest City
Pop 65,745
Huntsville
Pop 83,842
Places similar to Fort Payne
Head to head

Compare Fort Payne side by side

FORT PAYNE VS
Columbus
Income$50,861+45%
Home value$153,272+82%
Population67,144−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT PAYNE VS
Laurel
Income$51,524+47%
Home value$136,095+61%
Population82,281+11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT PAYNE VS
Forest City
Income$51,410+47%
Home value$201,800+139%
Population65,745−11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT PAYNE VS
Huntsville
Income$52,324+49%
Home value$226,900+169%
Population83,842+13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Fort Payne, AL?

Fort Payne, AL has about 71,109 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Fort Payne, AL earns about $35,065 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Fort Payne, AL expensive?

In Fort Payne, AL, the median home is worth about $84,400, and the typical rent is about $514 a month.

How educated are people in Fort Payne, AL?

About 10.9% of adults age 25 and over in Fort Payne, AL hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Fort Payne, AL?

About 20.0% of people in Fort Payne, AL live below the federal poverty line.

Has Fort Payne, AL grown since 1990?

Yes, Fort Payne, AL has grown since 1990. The population has added about 16,458 residents, a change of about 30 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

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