What it's like to live in Enterprise
Enterprise is a small city in Alabama with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, unemployment below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Enterprise deals with crime rates above the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, hot summers, and above-average rainfall.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment
- Short commutes
- Growing population
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- High student-teacher ratio
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Enterprise compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Enterprise
Based on Enterprise's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,196
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $43,920 a year
- 37% of Enterprise renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$40,580
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $20,290
- Homes cost 2.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 22% below US
$1,098/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,098 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $202,900. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $202,900 · 37% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 35% below US
2.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 2.8%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 129% above US
753 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 1854/100k · Enterprise Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 23% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 40°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 30% below US
25% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 25%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
10 public schools inside the boundary
There are 10 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site (77 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Enterprise's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and hot summers. A year of median rent ($1,098/mo) equals 18% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, job seekers, and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Enterprise
All Alabama guides →Not sure Enterprise is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.