United States › Fort Payne MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2020 ACS
Fort Payne Micro Fort Payne, AL · 1 counties · 71,608 residents · 777 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Fort Payne is a metro area of 71,608 people. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $113,600. Owners hold 74% of the housing stock. Renters pay $630 a month at the median. The poverty rate is 20.7%, above the 12.8% national rate.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.7
US median: 38.8
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
53K 58K 63K 69K 74K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Fort Payne Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $42,267
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,137 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $15,818 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 15.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 4.7%
Public administration 3.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.8%
Transportation & warehousing 2.3%
Arts, entertainment, food 2%
Education & health services 1.7%
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$113,600
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $61,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$630
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $370 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 78.7% in 2000
26.0% rent
from 2.65 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.4 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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 90.7%(58,436)
Hispanic / Latino 5.6%(3,578)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 76.1%(54,529)
Hispanic / Latino 16.4%(11,744)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data from 8.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 63.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 16.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 81.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 9.9% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 58.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 17.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 29.4%(8,495)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 17.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 11.8%(417)
Gulf War (1990s) 17.7%(625)
Share of the 3,535 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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In this metro
Largest cities What's inside
1 component county Drill deeper
Metros similar to Fort Payne Head to head
Compare Fort Payne side by side FORT PAYNE VS
Columbus
Income $50,861 +20%
Home value $153,272 +35%
Population 67,144 −9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT PAYNE VS
Laurel
Income $51,524 +22%
Home value $136,095 +20%
Population 82,281 +11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT PAYNE VS
Forest City
Income $51,410 +22%
Home value $201,800 +78%
Population 65,745 −11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT PAYNE VS
Huntsville
Income $52,324 +24%
Home value $226,900 +100%
Population 83,842 +13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Fort Payne, AL? Fort Payne, AL has about 71,608 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Fort Payne, AL? The typical household in Fort Payne, AL earns about $42,267 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 $113,600, and the typical rent is about $630 a month.
How educated are people in Fort Payne, AL? About 14.0% 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 20.7% 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 16,957 residents, a change of about 31 percent over that period.
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