What it's like to live in Troy
Troy is a small city in Alabama with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, county 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. Troy deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, and above-average rainfall.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment in the county
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- High poverty rate
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Troy compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Troy
Based on Troy's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,844
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $36,880 a year
- 47% of Troy renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$46,280
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $23,140
- Homes cost 4.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 35% below US
$922/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $922 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $231,400. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $231,400 · 47% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.2% county unemployment
Unemployment in Pike County is 3.2%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Pike County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 57% above US
518 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2428/100k · Troy Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 30% below US
18 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.2 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 90°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 39°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
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▲ 10% above US
40% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 40% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site (46 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Troy's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($922/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Troy
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