Fort Payne, AL vs Smiths Station, AL

Fort Payne is moderately more affordable than Smiths Station, with a 13.1% lower cost of living index. Fort Payne scores 65 compared to 74 for Smiths Station, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Smiths Station can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Payne is $670/month compared to $946/month in Smiths Station — a 29% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Payne is more affordable at $158,100 median vs $184,400.

Median household income in Fort Payne is $48,623 compared to $57,410 in Smiths Station (-15.3%). While Smiths Station is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Payne spend roughly 16.5% of their income on rent, less than the 19.8% in Smiths Station.

Climate-wise, Smiths Station is notably warmer with an average of 66.6°F compared to 58.8°F in Fort Payne. Fort Payne receives more rainfall at 56.2" per year compared to 48.8" in Smiths Station.