Best Life Index › States › Alabama › Cities › Decatur

Alabama city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Decatur?

What it costs to live in Decatur, and how it compares with other Alabama cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

43

30th best value in Alabama

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Alabama cities.

Overall livability

45

30th overall in Alabama

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Decatur is home to about 57,303 people. A typical home runs $147,600 and a household earns around $52,500, a price-to-income ratio of 2.8. Among Alabama's largest cities, it ranks 30th for value and 30th overall.

Decatur at a glance

Median home price

$147,600

23rd in AL of 47

Median rent

$725/mo

Median household income

$52,500

Home price to income

2.8x

Unemployment

5.8%

32nd in AL of 47

School rating

3/10

29th in AL of 47

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in AL of 47

Walk score

5/100

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‹ See all top Alabama cities ranked  ยท  Alabama state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Alabama only. Updated 2026.