The Town FilesFort Payne, Alabama
City in DeKalb County · population 14,877 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,000
- Household income
- $47,479
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 37.4
Fort Payne is a city of 14,877 people in DeKalb County, Alabama. The median home is worth $157,000, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better transit than 75% of Alabama towns, more vibrant than 73% of Alabama towns.
How Fort Payne ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fort Payne is worth $157,000, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $47,479, which is more affordable than 32% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $679 a month. 69.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fort Payne | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,000 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $679 | $834 |
| Median household income | $47,479 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.3% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Fort Payne
| People | Fort Payne | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.3% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.5% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.3% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 17.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.3% | 86.7% |
Weather in Fort Payne
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 31.5°F. About 58.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.0 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 60 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 57 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Payne since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 17 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on April 27, 2011 about 8.3 miles from the town center and killed 25. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 29 deaths and 108 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 29, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 10, 2025.
Severe weather in DeKalb County since 1996
DeKalb County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| July 10, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4555: Severe Thunderstorms |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in DeKalb County
DeKalb County had 23,367 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,391 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Fort Payne itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Fort Payne
6 public schools with 3,550 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Payne High School | 9-12 | 1,112 | 17.9 |
| Wills Valley Elementary School | PK-2 | 774 | 15.8 |
| Fort Payne Middle School | 6-8 | 756 | 15.8 |
| Little Ridge Intermediate School | 3-5 | 755 | 17.2 |
| Williams Avenue Elementary School | PK-PK | 153 | 17.0 |
| Alternative School | 5-12 | — | — |
Towns near Fort Payne
- Rainsville, AL8.8 mi · 5,505 people · home $230,400
- Summerville, GA19.4 mi · 4,435 people · home $99,000
- Centre, AL21.0 mi · 3,587 people · home $158,400
- Scottsboro, AL24.2 mi · 15,578 people · home $190,400
- LaFayette, GA29.0 mi · 6,888 people · home $144,800
Fort Payne questions
Is Fort Payne, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fort Payne scores better for retirees than 58% of Alabama towns and quieter than 29%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.4).
How much does a house cost in Fort Payne?
The median owner-occupied home in Fort Payne is valued at $157,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,479, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $679 a month.
What is the weather like in Fort Payne?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 31.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.0 inches of precipitation a year and 5.0 inches of snow.
Does Fort Payne get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Payne since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF5 on April 27, 2011. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)