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Living in
Jasper.
About
Life in Jasper
Living in Jasper means embracing a town that's honest about its past and present—historically rooted in coal and railroads, now working toward genuine revitalization rather than relying on tourism dollars. The cost of living is genuinely affordable, with a median home value around $216,000 and median rent under $750, which pairs well with a low unemployment rate of 2.9% and reasonable median household income of $66,250. The downtown is experiencing real investment and local character through things like the Foothills Festival, so you're not just moving to a declining place—you're moving to somewhere people actually believe in.
Jasper at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.9%
Foreign-Born
2.1%
Broadband Internet
91.9%
of households
Population Growth
-0.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Jasper: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Jasper, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (41.1%), and 3.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.7%
of residents
65 and Older
20.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.5%
of households
Married Couples
47.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.61
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 28% below AL average
Rent, home values, and income in Jasper
In Jasper, rent runs 28% below the AL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
28.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
12.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$742
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1977
median year built
Vacant Homes
14.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $199,710 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for AL
Unemployment in Jasper
Unemployment in Walker County, which includes Jasper, is close to the AL average.
Unemployment rate
Jasper: Walker County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Walker County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Jasper Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute26.8 min avg
How Jasper residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Jasper, most residents drive alone to work (86%), and 60% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 35 mi
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 35% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Jasper runs 35% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
446.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,569.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Jasper Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
82.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Walker County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Walker County, which includes Jasper, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $500 |
| 2024 | 12 | Drought | $500 |
| 2023 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 5 | Drought | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Walker County, county-wide
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jefferson County, AL (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 30 miles from Jasper) is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
52
Good Days
159
per year
Moderate Days
204
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Jefferson County, AL (30 mi away)
Climate89°F summers, 32°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Jasper has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and mild winters (avg low 32°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
73°/49°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
74°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
54°/32°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
61.8"
Annual Snowfall
0.6"
Hot Days/Year
58
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
73
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
108
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52°F | 31°F | 6.05" |
| Feb | 56°F | 34°F | 6.01" |
| Mar | 65°F | 41°F | 5.77" |
| Apr | 73°F | 48°F | 5.95" |
| May | 80°F | 58°F | 5.31" |
| Jun | 86°F | 66°F | 4.70" |
| Jul | 90°F | 70°F | 4.92" |
| Aug | 90°F | 69°F | 4.00" |
| Sep | 84°F | 62°F | 4.24" |
| Oct | 74°F | 49°F | 3.84" |
| Nov | 64°F | 39°F | 4.99" |
| Dec | 55°F | 33°F | 5.98" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Jasper
Jasper has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Walker Baptist Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Jasper
Jasper's student/teacher ratio is 16.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 28.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, 35 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Jasper
Jasper has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument (35 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
35 mi awayFreedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
80 mi awayTupelo National Battlefield
National Battlefield
88 mi awayNatchez Trace National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
89 mi awayBrices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site
National Battlefield Site
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Jasper
Carl Elliott Regional Library System
98 18th Street East, Jasper
Jasper Public Library
98 East 18th Street, Jasper
Cities Near Jasper
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Jasper?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Jasper FAQ
Is Jasper, Alabama affordable?⌄
Jasper's median rent is $721/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $66,238/year. Median home value is $215,700.
Is Jasper, Alabama safe?⌄
Jasper's violent crime rate was 446 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3569 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Jasper, Alabama?⌄
Walker County, which includes Jasper, has an unemployment rate of 2.8%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Jasper, Alabama?⌄
The cost of living in Jasper is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $721/month and median household income is $66,238/year. The median home value is $215,700. About 29% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Jasper, Alabama?⌄
The average commute in Jasper is 27 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from