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AL area data

Empire, AL

Empire, AL.

Population: 3,606 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in Empire, AL is $140,844 — down 6.8% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $133,500 after a median 39 days on market. FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Moderate, with lightning, tornado, cold wave the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 11.2% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$140,844

Typical home value

-6.8%

1-year change

39

Median days on market

Relatively Moderate

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$140,844
1-year appreciation
-6.8%
3-year appreciation
-8.6%
5-year appreciation
-8.7%
10-year appreciation
+45.2%
Peak value since 2000 (Feb 2022)
$160,023
House Price Index (state)
380.8 (+2.8% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$133,500
Median list price
$199,900
Median price per sqft
$127
Median days on market
39 days
Homes sold (recent period)
2
For-sale inventory
8
Sale-to-list ratio
103.5%
Active listings
7

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Studio fair-market rent
$684/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$776/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$949/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,314/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,586/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Low)
88.8 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
16.1¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$17.60/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Moderate
Top hazards (county)
lightning, tornado, cold wave, heat wave, inland flooding
Notable hazard ratings (county)
tornado: Relatively High · lightning: Relatively High · cold wave: Relatively Moderate · heat wave: Relatively Moderate · strong wind: Relatively Moderate · winter weather: Relatively Moderate
Most common flood zone among NFIP claims
Zone X
NFIP flood claims on record
2
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 65% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
88.2%
Radon potential (county)
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
35th Avenue (22 mi — proposed for listing)
Flood zones vary by property. Look up a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA NFIP flood-insurance claims (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Annual precipitation
58.3 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
8a (extreme annual low 10 to 15°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
2.5 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
10,594
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
9,036

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
1
Nearest national park
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument (24 mi)
Airports within 30 mi
7
Nearest airport
Rocky Springs Airpark (12 mi)
Nearest major airport
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) (24 mi)
Hospitals in or near this ZIP
16
Hospitals include
ST. VINCENT'S EAST, UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA HOSPITAL, BIRMINGHAM VA MEDICAL CENTER
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
2.9 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
4.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (4.5 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data (same ZIP, else within ~40 mi) · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
+29 tax filers

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration (county-level; published with a multi-year lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1989
Housing built before 1970
13.2%
Housing built 2000 or later
22.0%
Median annual property tax
$283
Mean commute to work
33 min
Households with broadband internet
67.3%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
15,804
Average weekly wage
$975
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Other Services
Annual residential building permits (county)
12

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

EmpireState medianUS median
Typical home value$140,844$204,805$288,527
Median sale price$133,500$247,500$325,000
Median days on market39 days66 days51 days
Median annual property tax$283$514$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the typical home value in Empire, AL?
$140,844.
What is the median sale price in Empire, AL?
$133,500.
How long do homes take to sell in Empire, AL?
Median days on market: 39 days.
What is typical rent in Empire, AL?
2-bedroom fair-market rent: $949/month (HUD FMR — a 40th-percentile regulatory reference, not market-observed).
What is the natural-hazard risk in Empire, AL?
Overall risk: Relatively Moderate (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: lightning, tornado, cold wave, heat wave, inland flooding.
Is Empire, AL in a flood zone?
Flood zones vary by property within Empire, AL. 2 FEMA flood-insurance (NFIP) claims are on record; the most common zone among them is X. Check a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
What is the wildfire risk in Empire, AL?
Risk to homes is higher than 65% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Empire, AL?
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Empire, AL?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
Is Empire, AL walkable?
Walkability index: 2.5/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the cost of living in Empire, AL?
Regional Price Parity: 88.8 (100 = US average) (Low) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for Empire

Listing a home in Empire, AL?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents