Cost Of Living
The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.
Crime
With a lower than average crime rate per 100,000 people, this area could be considered a very safe place to live. Crime rates are based on both violent and property crimes.
Housing
This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Amenities
A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.
Commute
Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.
Schools
Lower than average education levels, poor reading and math scores, as well as the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools could all be factors in the low schools score.
Cottondale, Alabama is a small-sized city with a population of 3,406 inhabitants. Individuals of White (55%) and Black or African American (36%) backgrounds make up a significant portion of the population of the city. On a daily basis, the typical American spends approximately 26 minutes on their one-way work commute. Reduced travel times not only contributes to increased overall happiness, but also affords more opportunities to cherish moments with family and friends. If you're living in Cottondale, your commute time will align closely with the national average, spanning a one-way duration of approximately 24 minutes.
Are you trying to decide if living in Cottondale is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a positive experience before moving to any new city in Alabama, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. To help you find the best places to live in and around Cottondale, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like crime, cost of living, health & safety, education, housing and more.
The livability score in Cottondale is 63 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 50th percentile of all cities across America. If we explore each of the categories individually, we see that Cottondale ranks well for crime (A-), cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). Regrettably for Cottondale, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F) and education (F).
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Cottondale has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Cottondale is actually affordable. The median home price for Cottondale homes is $199,777, which is 15.2% lower than the Alabama average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Cottondale, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.4, which is 33.3% lower than the Alabama average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Cottondale | Alabama | National |
| Average one way commute | 24min | 25min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 79.3% | 85.7% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 16.2% | 8.8% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.0% | 0.4% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 4.0% | 1.1% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 0.0% | 2.9% | 4.6% |
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