City profile · Alabama · Census ACS 2023

Phenix City, AL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Phenix City - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

38,477
Residents
$49,715
Median income
$160,000
Median home
$1,088
Median rent (state)

Phenix City - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Phenix City places in the 19th percentile for household income and the 6th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

19th
percentile, household income
30th
percentile, home value
27th
percentile, median rent
6th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Phenix City, AL

Alabama's Phenix City is a small city, with 38,477 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $49,715 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 19.8%. Home values in Phenix City run a median of $160,000, and the median resident age is 35.8 years. 23.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 55.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 75 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Rapid Growth), up 29% from five years earlier. Phenix City's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 4248.1 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, above the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Alabama run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Alabama at 88.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,088 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Alabama run around $245, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 19.0 minutes, with 78.1% driving alone and 9.6% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 54.7 out of 100 (Low).

Population

38,477 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alabama

Median Household Income

$49,715 /yr

Poverty 19.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alabama average

How does Phenix City compare to other US cities?

Phenix City measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 19% higher than other cities
Home value 30% pricier than other cities
Median rent 27% pricier than other cities
Safety 6% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Alabama and the picture shifts: Phenix City ranks #206 of 222 Alabama cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Phenix City's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Alabama, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

19thIncome percentile
6thSafety percentile

19th percentile nationally for median household income · 6th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Phenix City's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Phenix City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 32 Avg. percentile National median
Phenix City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Phenix City's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$160,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 70% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Phenix City $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Phenix City, AL Phenix City, AL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Phenix City, AL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Phenix City, AL median $49,715/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Phenix City, AL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Phenix City, AL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 19.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
38,477
Median Income
$49,715
Median Home Value
$160,000
Median Age
35.8
Poverty Rate
19.8%
Labor force participation
55.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
4248.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
777.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3470.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
12
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
38,200 residents38,400 residents38,600 residents38,800 residents39,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 38,821 residents 38,344 residents ▼ -1.2%
Phenix City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
75
housing units authorized
Single-Family
71
detached homes
Multifamily
4
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 58
2020 139
2021 118
2022 262
2023 106
2024 75

Permit volume increased 29% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
19.0 minutes
Drive Alone
78.1%
Carpool
8.2%
Public Transit
0.7%
Walk
1.1%
Work from Home
9.6%
Other
2.3%

Based on 17,333 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Alabama - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$138
avg/month
Natural Gas
$62
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$245
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Alabama state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Alabama state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Phenix City sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,088/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
54.7 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alabama

Vestavia Hills
38,704 people
Prattville
38,850 people
Florence
41,231 people
Alabaster
33,633 people
Gadsden
33,617 people
Opelika
31,944 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Phenix City's 38,477 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Calexico, CA
38,476 people
Atlantic City, NJ
38,486 people
Wheeling, IL
38,495 people
Winter Springs, FL
38,448 people
Urbana, IL
38,447 people
Mechanicsville, VA
38,437 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Phenix City's $49,715 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Barron, WI
$49,715 median income
Center Point, NM
$49,714 median income
Clemson, SC
$49,713 median income
El Cerro Mission, NM
$49,719 median income
Potts Camp, MS
$49,722 median income
Creston, NE
$49,722 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Phenix City, AL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Phenix City, AL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 44.0% 46.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.3% White 44.0% Black or African American 46.3% Asian 1.3% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 2.2% Two or more races 5.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Phenix City compares to nearby Alabama cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Phenix City (this city) 38,477 $49,715
Vestavia Hills 38,704 $129,171
Prattville 38,850 $79,396
Florence 41,231 $50,396
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AL FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Phenix City, AL?

What is the population of Phenix City, AL? +

38,477 people live in Phenix City, AL according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Phenix City, AL? +

Median annual household income in Phenix City runs $49,715, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Phenix City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Phenix City; the closest available measure is the Alabama state average, a cost of living index of 88.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Alabama vary by metro area.

Is Phenix City, AL safe? +

Phenix City has a total crime rate of 4248.1 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Phenix City, AL? +

Phenix City's median home value sits at $160,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.