Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Fairhope, AL

    Is Fairhope a good place to live?

    Watch Fairhope

    Fairhope ranks #6 of 25 Alabama cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (61/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 3.3% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $406,500
    +3.6% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,637
    per month
    Household income
    $86,509
    median
    Unemployment
    3.6%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Fairhope

    The median home value in Fairhope is $406,500 and median rent is $1,637 a month, against a median household income of $86,509. Homes cost about 4.7× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Fairhope crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Alabama the 2025 rate was 353 violent and 1,501 property crimes per 100,000 people — #23 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Fairhope, AL

    Fairhope has about 23,360 residents, 3.6% unemployment and 29% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Fairhope with

    Fairhope vs HuntsvilleFairhope vs BirminghamFairhope vs MontgomeryFairhope vs MobileFairhope vs TuscaloosaFairhope vs HooverFairhope vs AuburnFairhope vs Dothan

    More: Where to move in Alabama · Best counties in Alabama

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report