Cottondale 63 Average
Cottondale Livability #153 ranked city in Alabama#14,589 ranked city in the USARanks better than 50% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Cottondale

PROS
  • 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.

CONS
  • 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.

New Real Estate Listings in Cottondale Area
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What's it like Living in Cottondale?

Cottondale is a smaller city located in the state of Alabama. The city has a population of 3,325 inhabitants. Cottondale is mostly populated by White (55%) and Black or African American (36%) ethnic groups. Long commute times to work can be incredibly frustrating, ranking just behind housework on the list of life's annoyances. If you opt to make Cottondale your home, your one-way commute time will typically last around 24 minutes, a duration that aligns with the national average commute time of 26 minutes.

If you’re considering moving to any new city, it could be a very daunting task. However, it could also be a positive experience if you are willing to get to know the area before actually living in Cottondale, Alabama. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. To help you find the best places to live in and around Cottondale, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, crime, education and more.

The livability score in Cottondale is 63/100 and the city is ranked in the 55th percentile of all cities across America. There are nine total categories that form the livability score. Cottondale scores well for crime (B+), cost of living (A+) and housing (B+) There is at least one category that did not score well in Cottondale. The following was graded with a less than perfect score: amenities (F).

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Cottondale excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

Assuming that Cottondale meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Cottondale. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Cottondale are simply unattainable. The median home price for Cottondale homes is $110,500, which is 14% 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, which is 31% lower than the Alabama average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Cottondale

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Cottondale?

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Compare Cottondale, AL Livability

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      Cottondale transportation information

      Statistic Cottondale Alabama National
      Average one way commute24min25min26min
      Workers who drive to work79.3%85.7%76.4%
      Workers who carpool16.2%8.8%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%0.4%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.1%0.6%
      Workers who walk4.0%1.1%2.8%
      Working from home0.0%2.9%4.6%
      Source: The Cottondale, AL data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).