Relocation profile · Federal data
Gadsden, AL
BEA RPP 85.7 ranks #12 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
- 85.7
- Cost index (US=100)
- $927
- 2BR rent / mo
- $49,412
- Median salary
- 53.7
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Gadsden ranks #154 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (53.7/100), with its strongest marks in housing and cost of living.
- #154
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 5,157,699
- metro-area population
- 376
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,369
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: job market (0/100). 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), Gadsden ranks #154 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 85.7 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $927/mo, median salary $49,412; LiveAbility Score 53.7/100, strongest in housing and cost of living.
Signature: BEA RPP 85.7 ranks #12 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 85.7 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $927/mo.
LiveAbility 53.7/100 keeps Gadsden in the middle third (#154 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Gadsden area is 27,240.
Gadsden 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)
54 Top 40% higher than 60% 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
Gadsden housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Gadsden MSA; housing RPP 53.7 (100 = national average); 2BR $927/mo.
Gadsden wages and employment
Gadsden posts 27,240 total employment with median salary $49,412 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $77,810 |
| Retail Salespersons | $28,300 |
| Cashiers | $25,750 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,770 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $31,270 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Gadsden area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Gadsden area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Gadsden's composite Life Score is 56.6/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Gadsden ranks #154 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 53.7/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Gadsden - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Housing
Housing
98 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
97 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
61 /100
- Climate
Climate
45 /100
- Safety
Safety
40 /100
- Air quality 33
Air quality
33 /100
- Schools 30
Schools
30 /100
- Job market 0
Job market
0 /100
What this shows Gadsden's strongest dimensions are housing and cost of living; its weakest among scored dims is job market at 0/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Gadsden to
Metros near Gadsden on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Gadsden on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Similar LiveAbility score
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Gadsden cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Gadsden 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 Gadsden?
Gadsden runs a $49,412 median salary at a 85.7 cost index, ranking #154 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Gadsden's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Gadsden head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Gadsden
- 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.