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AL area data

Rainbow City, AL

Rainbow City, AL.

Population: 10,446 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in Rainbow City, AL is $253,933 — up 3.0% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $269,900 after a median 47 days on market. 2 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Moderate, with strong wind, 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

$253,933

Typical home value

+3.0%

1-year change

47

Median days on market

Relatively Moderate

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$253,933
1-year appreciation
+3.0%
3-year appreciation
+9.8%
5-year appreciation
+25.0%
10-year appreciation
+81.4%
Peak value since 2000 (Aug 2026)
$253,933
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
$269,900
Median list price
$275,000
Median price per sqft
$155
1-year sale-price change
+8.8%
Median days on market
47 days
Homes sold (recent period)
25
For-sale inventory
40
Sale-to-list ratio
99.1%
Active listings
27
1-year forecast
+3.0%
New listings (monthly)
8

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

Rents

Studio fair-market rent
$679/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$830/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$975/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,235/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,397/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)

Schools

Total schools
2
Elementary schools
1
Middle schools
1
High schools
0
Avg student-teacher ratio
17.9 : 1
Schools include
John S Jones Elementary School, Rainbow Middle School

Source: NCES school directory, 2024-25 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Moderate
Top hazards (county)
strong wind, tornado, cold wave, inland flooding, lightning
Notable hazard ratings (county)
tornado: Relatively High · strong wind: Relatively High · cold wave: Relatively Moderate · lightning: Relatively Moderate · inland flooding: Relatively Moderate · hail: Relatively Low
Most common flood zone among NFIP claims
Zone AE
NFIP flood claims on record
29
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 72% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
63.2%
Radon potential (county)
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
Anniston Army Depot (Southeast Industrial Area) (19.9 mi)
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)

Average annual temperature
62.0°F
Average high
74.0°F
Average low
51.0°F
Annual precipitation
52.2 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)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
45
Days with Good air quality
223
Days with Moderate air quality
140
Highest AQI recorded (year)
87

Source: EPA annual air quality index (county-level)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
6.8 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
12,367
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
9,460

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
3
Nearest national park
Freedom Riders National Monument (23 mi)
National parks include
Freedom Riders National Monument, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
Airports within 30 mi
13
Nearest airport
Northeast Alabama Regional Airport (GAD) (3 mi)
Nearest major airport
Anniston Regional Airport (ANB) (27 mi)
Hospitals in or near this ZIP
14
Hospitals include
MARSHALL MEDICAL CENTERS, ST. VINCENT'S EAST, FLOYD CHEROKEE MEDICAL CENTER
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
2.3 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
3.0 / 5
EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
20
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)
+112 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
18.2%
Housing built 2000 or later
30.7%
Median annual property tax
$820
Mean commute to work
24 min
Households with broadband internet
70.0%

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

Employment & development

Total county employment
27,992
Average weekly wage
$912
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Administrative Services
Annual residential building permits (county)
123

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

How it compares

Rainbow CityState medianUS median
Typical home value$253,933$204,805$288,527
Median sale price$269,900$247,500$325,000
Median days on market47 days66 days51 days
Median annual property tax$820$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 Rainbow City, AL?
$253,933.
What is the median sale price in Rainbow City, AL?
$269,900.
How long do homes take to sell in Rainbow City, AL?
Median days on market: 47 days.
What is typical rent in Rainbow City, AL?
2-bedroom fair-market rent: $975/month (HUD FMR — a 40th-percentile regulatory reference, not market-observed).
What is the natural-hazard risk in Rainbow City, AL?
Overall risk: Relatively Moderate (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: strong wind, tornado, cold wave, inland flooding, lightning.
Is Rainbow City, AL in a flood zone?
Flood zones vary by property within Rainbow City, AL. 29 FEMA flood-insurance (NFIP) claims are on record; the most common zone among them is AE. Check a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
What is the wildfire risk in Rainbow City, AL?
Risk to homes is higher than 72% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Rainbow City, AL?
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Rainbow City, AL?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve Rainbow City, AL?
2 schools (1 elementary, 1 middle) (NCES, 2024-25).
Is Rainbow City, AL walkable?
Walkability index: 6.8/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in Rainbow City, AL?
Good. Median AQI: 45. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Rainbow City, AL?
Regional Price Parity: 88.8 (100 = US average) (Low) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for Rainbow City

Listing a home in Rainbow City, 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