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Living in
Rainbow City.
About
Life in Rainbow City
Rainbow City is a community of 10,213 people in Alabama. The median household income is $56,398, median rent runs about $1,048 per month, and median home values are around $223,000. Unemployment is low at 3.0%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Rainbow City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.0%
Foreign-Born
4.9%
Broadband Internet
89.8%
of households
Population Growth
+1.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.9% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Rainbow City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Rainbow City, the largest foreign-born group is from India (24.0%), and 1.3% of residents speak Vietnamese at home.
Under 18
22.5%
of residents
65 and Older
18.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.7%
of households
Married Couples
45.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.47
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 about average for AL
Rent, home values, and income in Rainbow City
In Rainbow City, home values are 6% above the AL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
54.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
37.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
85.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$826
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1990
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $252,192 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for AL
Unemployment in Rainbow City
Unemployment in Etowah County, which includes Rainbow City, is close to the AL average.
Unemployment rate
Rainbow City: Etowah County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Etowah County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Rainbow City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute26.7 min avg
How Rainbow City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Rainbow City, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 66% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 46 mi
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
- 97 mi
Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Major hub51.5M 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 77% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Rainbow City runs 77% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
77
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
818.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Rainbow City Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
87.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Etowah County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Etowah County, which includes Rainbow City, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 9 | Drought | None reported |
| 2023 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 5 | Hail | None reported |
| 2020 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | 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
Etowah County, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Etowah County, which includes Rainbow City, is typically good — 223 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
223
per year
Moderate Days
140
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Etowah County, county-wide
Climate90°F summers, 35°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Rainbow City has warm summers (avg high 90°F) and mild winters (avg low 35°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
74°/51°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
90°/70°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
75°/53°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
55°/35°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
57.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.2"
Hot Days/Year
66
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
53
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
106
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53°F | 33°F | 5.70" |
| Feb | 57°F | 36°F | 5.18" |
| Mar | 66°F | 43°F | 5.40" |
| Apr | 75°F | 50°F | 5.07" |
| May | 82°F | 59°F | 4.79" |
| Jun | 88°F | 68°F | 4.56" |
| Jul | 91°F | 71°F | 4.71" |
| Aug | 90°F | 70°F | 4.49" |
| Sep | 85°F | 64°F | 4.50" |
| Oct | 75°F | 53°F | 3.51" |
| Nov | 64°F | 41°F | 4.25" |
| Dec | 56°F | 36°F | 5.48" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Rainbow City
Uninsured
10.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Rainbow City's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Riverview Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.1 mi away · Gadsden
Gadsden Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.8 mi away · Gadsden
Mountain View Hospital
Psychiatric · 12.4 mi away · Gadsden
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.
Education17.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Rainbow City
Rainbow City's student/teacher ratio is 17.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 20.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
20.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Freedom Riders National Monument, 23 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Rainbow City
Rainbow City has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Freedom Riders National Monument (23 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Freedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
23 mi awayLittle River Canyon National Preserve
National Preserve
43 mi awayBirmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
51 mi awayHorseshoe Bend National Military Park
National Military Park
69 mi awayRussell Cave National Monument
National Monument
74 mi awayChickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
National Military Park
83 mi awayKennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
86 mi awayMartin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
National Historical Park
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Rainbow City
Rainbow City Public Library
3702 Rainbow Drive, Rainbow City
Cities Near Rainbow City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Rainbow City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Rainbow City FAQ
Is Rainbow City, Alabama affordable?⌄
Rainbow City's median rent is $1,048/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $56,398/year. Median home value is $223,000.
Is Rainbow City, Alabama safe?⌄
Rainbow City's violent crime rate was 77 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 819 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Rainbow City, Alabama?⌄
Etowah County, which includes Rainbow City, has an unemployment rate of 3.0%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Rainbow City, Alabama?⌄
The cost of living in Rainbow City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,048/month and median household income is $56,398/year. The median home value is $223,000. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Rainbow City, Alabama?⌄
The average commute in Rainbow City 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