Relocation profile · Federal data
Decatur, AL
BEA RPP 87.2 ranks #38 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
- 87.2
- Cost index (US=100)
- $961
- 2BR rent / mo
- $61,714
- Median salary
- 60.1
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Decatur ranks #55 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (60.1/100), with its strongest marks in housing and cost of living.
- #55
- of 387 US metros · Excellent
- 5,157,699
- metro-area population
- 376
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,369
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: job market (23/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Decatur ranks #55 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 87.2 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $961/mo, median salary $61,714; LiveAbility Score 60.1/100, strongest in housing and cost of living.
Signature: BEA RPP 87.2 ranks #38 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 87.2 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $961/mo.
LiveAbility 60.1/100 puts Decatur in the top third (#55 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Decatur area is 54,590.
Decatur vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
60 Top 14% higher than 86% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Decatur housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Decatur MSA; housing RPP 58.1 (100 = national average); 2BR $961/mo.
Decatur wages and employment
Decatur posts 54,590 total employment with median salary $61,714 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $43,120 |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,550 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,390 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $25,720 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $43,900 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Decatur area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Decatur area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Decatur's composite Life Score is 59.7/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Decatur ranks #55 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 60.1/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Decatur - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Housing
Housing
97 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
90 /100
- Climate
Climate
76 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
61 /100
- Air quality
Air quality
50 /100
- Safety
Safety
41 /100
- Schools 31
Schools
31 /100
- Job market 23
Job market
23 /100
What this shows Decatur's strongest dimensions are housing and cost of living; its weakest among scored dims is job market at 23/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Decatur to
Metros near Decatur on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Decatur on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Decatur cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Decatur wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Decatur?
Decatur runs a $61,714 median salary at a 87.2 cost index, ranking #55 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Decatur's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Decatur head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Decatur
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.