When you have the Gulf Shores and the Talladega National Forests in your backyard, it’s hard not to find a great place to call home in Alabama.
But where is the best place to live in Alabama? That’s what we set to find out based on the most recent FBI, Census, and Zillow data.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare 101 cities on factors including crime, cost of living, household incomes, and median home values to find out, once and for all, the best places to call home in the Yellowhammer State. Living in the greater Birmingham region is a little slice of heaven, according to the data.
So grab some fried catfish and BBQ and read on.
$201,479 median income · $1,028,341 median home · #1 best place in Alabama
Located in
Jefferson County, Alabama
It’s hard to know where to begin with a city as awesome as Mountain Brook, which appears in the top five statewide for just about every category we measured. The economy of Mountain Brook is as solid as it gets, with the 3rd lowest unemployment rate and 5th lowest poverty in Alabama. There’s also very little to fear in terms of criminal activity, seeing as Mountain Brook has the 7th lowest crime rate in the state.
There are some other perks that come along with being a Birmingham ‘burb. According to local real estate agent Josh Vernon of Keller Williams, “Mountain Brook is known for its five shopping villages that draws individuals to upscale boutiques, delicious eateries, day spas, and so much more. Community parks are filled with residents for recreation and enjoyment, and their award-winning school system is recognized as one of the top in the state.”
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$134,369 median income · $561,213 median home · #2 best place in Alabama
Located in
Shelby County, Alabama
Another affluent Birmingham suburb, Vestavia Hills has held the top spot on this list more than once over the years. For starters, it’s one the safest places in Alabama, so there’s no need to fear Amazon porch pirates here. If you’re moving here with children, you’re in luck, because GreatSchools gave Vestavia Hills public schools an average score of 9/10.
Of course, all these awesome things don’t come free of charge. Homes in Vestavia Hills are the 3rd most expensive in Alabama at $561,213. Residents don’t sweat it much, though, since they also earn a median household income of $134,369/year, the 3rd highest in the state. And it’s not like Vestavia Hills leaves some people in the dust while the 1% celebrate, because at 10.0%, it has the 24th lowest poverty level in Alabama.
Not to mention that, with the Birmingham Zoo right down the road, you’ll always have something to do when out-of-towners come for a visit.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$134,655 median income · $374,497 median home · #3 best place in Alabama
Located in
Madison County, Alabama
We’re taking our first foray outside of the Birmingham area to reach our 3rd best city in Alabama, Madison. A suburb of Huntsville, Madison has a much lower cost of living than the top three cities on this list, making it an attractive budget choice. Homes are a tad cheaper, but the median household income in Madison is still the 2nd highest in Alabama at $134,655/year.
You may want to brush up on your trivia before making the move to Madison, though, because people here are no dummies. About a quarter of the population has a master’s degree, PhD, or professional degree, which does help explain the high pay here. In terms of entertainment, being surrounded by the rapidly growing economic hub of Huntsville does a lot for your choices. But between Rainbow Mountain and a top-notch local farmer’s market, you don’t have to leave Madison for a good time.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$94,485 median income · $558,046 median home · #4 best place in Alabama
Located in
Jefferson County, Alabama
Our 4th best city in Alabama, Homewood, is a suburb of 27,829 located between Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills. The median age in Homewood is 29, making it the youngest city we’ll be covering. That’s part of the reason we named Homewood one of the best cities for singles in Alabama. It also helps to have great things to do around, like hiking in nearby Red Mountain Park.
Homewood is also the 2nd most densely populated city in Alabama, so you know you’ll never lack for action here. It also cuts down on commute times, seeing as Homewood residents have an average commute of just 17 minutes, the 2nd shortest in the state. Just be warned that Homewood comes with a steep price tag; by housing costs, Homewood’s cost of living is nearly triple the Alabama average.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$109,253 median income · $437,228 median home · #5 best place in Alabama
Located in
Shelby County, Alabama
Hoover sits at the outskirts of Birmingham. This makes it an excellent place for commuters to put down roots, with just a 15-minute drive taking them to the heart of the state’s most important commercial center. More than that, Hoover provides the number 5 best location to live in all of Alabama.
With a population of 92,642 residents, Hoover itself stands among Alabama’s biggest cities. It comes in at number 6 on that list. The community also has one of the most thriving economies in the area. The area’s median income is $109,253, the 7th best figure in Alabama. The median home value here comes in at $437,228.
For a key suburb of a major urban market, Hoover remains relatively affordable, with its cost of living closely matching the national average. The community also has fine schools, scoring a 7/10 on Great Schools.
Along with these core benefits, Hoover also provides access to a number of amenities. The Oak Mountain State Park is a short drive outside of town. Want to do a little shopping? Well, you can head to Riverchase Galleria, one of the largest shopping malls in the region.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$115,139 median income · $363,042 median home · #6 best place in Alabama
Located in
Shelby County, Alabama
Helena is a Birmingham suburb of 21,769 with a penchant for awesomeness. The crime rate in Helena is roughly 60% lower than the national average and ranks as the 4th lowest in Alabama. So you won’t have to worry about scoundrels picking your pocket when you’re catching a show at the Helena Amphitheater.
The economy in Helena is super strong, with the 4th lowest poverty level and 12th lowest unemployment rate in the state. Residents of Helena are also among the richest in Alabama, with a median household income of $115,139/year. And with homes going for a reasonable $363,042, Helena also enjoys the best home price to income ratio on this list.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$87,250 median income · $326,736 median home · #7 best place in Alabama
Located in
Baldwin County, Alabama
We’re heading back to the Mobile suburbs to reach our 7th best place to call home in Alabama, Daphne. Here you’ll find Blue Ribbon schools, low unemployment, and streets that are safe for everyone. In fact, Daphne experienced the 2nd least amount of violent crime in Alabama for 2026. At $87,250/year, Daphne has the lowest median household income on this list, but that’s still about 40% higher than the Alabama average.
Daphne also has the good fortune to be on the eastern shoreline of Mobile Bay, meaning that the sunsets from Daphne Bayfront Park are truly a sight to behold. One last thing to note is that Daphne’s median age is 38, making it the second youngest city on this list. So if living in a vibrant, youthful city is a priority, Daphne might make an excellent choice.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$123,275 median income · $394,833 median home · #8 best place in Alabama
Located in
St. Clair County, Alabama
Next up on our list of best places to live in Alabama is Trussville, a Birmingham suburb of 26,673. GreatSchools gave public schools in Trussville an average rating of 9.5/10, so you know that you’re giving your kids the best possible start if you’re living here. In fact, Trussville has the 4th lowest high school dropout rate in Alabama.
That level of excellence extends to all facets of life in Trussville. For example, at 97.3%, Trussville has the 3rd highest rate of residents with health insurance anywhere in Alabama. And the poverty level in Trussville is just 1.1%, the 1st%. Not to mention that most people in Trussville are far from living in poverty, seeing as the city enjoys the 4th highest median household income in the state at $123,275/year.
To reward yourself for living in the 8th best place in Alabama, we recommend spending a day at Cosby Lake Park; trails for hikers and cyclists, bass and catfish galore, and an abundance of delightful picnic spots make it a local favorite.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$94,274 median income · $459,930 median home · #9 best place in Alabama
Located in
Baldwin County, Alabama
Let’s take a trip down the Gulf Shore for our 9th best city in Alabama, Fairhope. The median age in Fairhope is 48, making it the oldest city on this list. Depending on your priorities, this might be a positive or a negative thing. Living on Mobile Bay, however, is a positive for anyone and everyone. Who wouldn’t like shopping and strolling down Fairhope Avenue, grabbing a pint from the local brewery, followed up by catching a gorgeous sunset from the pier?
Word to the wise, though; Fairhope ranks among the most expensive cities in Alabama, so you might want to make sure you lock down a job paying $94,274/year before packing your bags. But Fairhope is worth every penny in our opinion. Evidently, people agree, because Fairhope is one of the fastest growing places in Alabama. Safe streets, top schools, and a job market that works for everyone — it’s hard to put a price tag on all that.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$101,042 median income · $237,699 median home · #10 best place in Alabama
Located in
Mobile County, Alabama
With a median income of 101,042, Satsuma stands out as an affordable best place to live in Alabama. This 6,822 person community sits just south of I-65 in Mobile County, near the Mobile Delta.
Once a booming citrus and pecan hub, it’s now a quiet suburban pocket where families actually settle. The poverty rate sits at 5.2%, and homes average $237,699.
If you’re hunting for a small Alabama town where the numbers and the feel both work, Satsuma delivers.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Alabama’s statewide median.
Alabama statewide median: $63,999
Alabama statewide median: $236,453
Alabama statewide median: 4.7%
On the map
Mapping The Best And Worst Places To Live in Alabama
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In Alabama
Before we even started to collect data on the best places to live in Alabama, we had to answer a tough question: Is it fair to pit cities with populations over 100,000 against places with a population of 18?
We firmly decided no, that just isn’t fair.
So, to create our ranking, we broke the best places to live into three tiers:
- Cities — Populations over 5,000
- Towns — Populations between 1,000 and 5,000
- Small Towns — Populations below 1,000
We then decided no matter how much anyone loves their town, the best cities to live in Alabama have more of everything, and therefore, you need over 5,000 people to truly be ‘the best.’
Now that we had our set of the best possible cities, it was time to rank them using Saturday Night Science.
We ranked each place in Alabama across a number of criteria from one to 101, with one being the best.
We then took the average rank across all criteria, crowning the city posting the lowest overall score, the “Best Place To Live In Alabama.”
The criteria we looked to determine the best places were:
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Unemployment Rate
- Commute Time
- Crime
- Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty rates
Sources of criteria include the New Census Data, FBI Crime Data, and Zillow. We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking Alabama’s best places to live.
If your city or town isn’t among the top 10, jump down to the bottom of the post to see a detailed chart of the best places in Alabama. Otherwise, buckle up for a ride down good living lane with Mountain Brook at the end of the cul-de-sac.
The full plate
Best Places To Live In Alabama Table
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Best Score | Population | Unemployment Rate | Home Value | Median Income | Rent | Total Crime /100k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mountain Brook | 3.30 | 22,029 | 1.2% | $1,028,341 | $201,479 | 817 | |
| 2 | Vestavia Hills | 9.30 | 38,616 | 1.9% | $561,213 | $134,369 | 710 | |
| 3 | Madison | 13.65 | 60,106 | 2.2% | $374,497 | $134,655 | 1,589 | |
| 4 | Homewood | 14.90 | 27,829 | 2.3% | $558,046 | $94,485 | 2,109 | |
| 5 | Hoover | 17.65 | 92,642 | 3.5% | $437,228 | $109,253 | 1,331 | |
| 6 | Helena | 19.45 | 21,769 | 2.0% | $363,042 | $115,139 | 524 | |
| 7 | Daphne | 21.70 | 29,453 | 2.3% | $326,736 | $87,250 | 954 | |
| 8 | Trussville | 22.75 | 26,673 | 1.2% | $394,833 | $123,275 | 2,133 | |
| 9 | Fairhope | 22.90 | 24,190 | 3.5% | $459,930 | $94,274 | 1,344 | |
| 10 | Satsuma | 26.90 | 6,822 | 5.0% | $237,699 | $101,042 | 836 | |
| 11 | Chelsea | 27.15 | 16,260 | 3.2% | $384,778 | $115,337 | 1,630 | |
| 12 | Pelham | 29.20 | 24,827 | 2.0% | $323,686 | $101,094 | 914 | |
| 13 | Prattville | 29.20 | 39,482 | 1.8% | $262,195 | $81,337 | 2,135 | |
| 14 | Auburn | 29.35 | 80,594 | 3.2% | $412,908 | $63,668 | 1,129 | |
| 15 | Spanish Fort | 29.75 | 10,662 | 4.4% | $379,955 | $99,346 | 1,529 | |
| 16 | Southside | 29.80 | 9,483 | 2.9% | $269,901 | $76,487 | 432 | |
| 17 | Rainsville | 30.20 | 5,702 | 1.0% | $227,373 | $74,046 | 456 | |
| 18 | Alabaster | 30.40 | 33,917 | 2.5% | $303,750 | $91,357 | 1,630 | |
| 19 | Pleasant Grove | 31.50 | 9,442 | 1.7% | $225,144 | $70,317 | 1,006 | |
| 20 | Springville | 33.90 | 5,081 | 3.2% | $321,266 | $84,231 | 1,574 | |
| 21 | Gardendale | 34.10 | 16,534 | 3.4% | $266,523 | $82,192 | 1,742 | |
| 22 | Orange Beach | 34.35 | 8,407 | 3.8% | $678,809 | $97,736 | 2,272 | |
| 23 | Tuscumbia | 36.50 | 9,115 | 1.7% | $196,275 | $59,143 | 516 | |
| 24 | Moody | 37.20 | 13,488 | 5.7% | $259,875 | $86,627 | 1,031 | |
| 25 | Northport | 37.50 | 31,218 | 5.7% | $266,846 | $80,913 | 3,367 | |
| 26 | Gulf Shores | 38.15 | 16,401 | 2.4% | $450,266 | $78,188 | 2,207 | |
| 27 | Saraland | 39.80 | 16,404 | 3.6% | $233,993 | $61,509 | 1,798 | |
| 28 | Hartselle | 40.10 | 15,847 | 3.1% | $246,208 | $76,290 | 2,941 | |
| 29 | Muscle Shoals | 40.10 | 16,951 | 2.3% | $260,072 | $75,894 | 3,268 | |
| 30 | Huntsville | 40.55 | 222,791 | 4.1% | $287,569 | $74,714 | 2,948 | |
| 31 | Calera | 40.60 | 17,714 | 2.7% | $254,701 | $87,194 | 1,654 | |
| 32 | Cullman | 42.15 | 19,319 | 2.9% | $261,636 | $61,224 | 2,837 | |
| 33 | Irondale | 44.40 | 13,464 | 8.5% | $289,627 | $72,343 | 1,589 | |
| 34 | Fultondale | 44.85 | 9,384 | 3.3% | $228,868 | $73,575 | 3,058 | |
| 35 | Headland | 45.20 | 5,217 | 1.5% | $224,992 | $79,063 | 1,591 | |
| 36 | Millbrook | 45.35 | 17,189 | 6.6% | $218,705 | $70,313 | 3,776 | |
| 37 | Robertsdale | 46.10 | 7,194 | 0.3% | $267,052 | $59,152 | 3,100 | |
| 38 | Smiths Station | 47.70 | 5,496 | 2.0% | $280,274 | $64,669 | 3,342 | |
| 39 | Athens | 47.75 | 29,002 | 3.1% | $307,881 | $69,922 | 2,621 | |
| 40 | Foley | 48.30 | 24,026 | 3.5% | $301,570 | $66,336 | 1,894 | |
| 41 | Montevallo | 48.85 | 7,556 | 7.2% | $248,376 | $56,626 | 1,178 | |
| 42 | Wetumpka | 50.35 | 7,437 | 8.9% | $278,368 | $57,763 | 1,439 | |
| 43 | Oxford | 50.95 | 22,063 | 5.5% | $195,937 | $74,268 | 2,806 | |
| 44 | Florence | 51.25 | 41,701 | 6.3% | $210,214 | $52,174 | 2,734 | |
| 45 | Guntersville | 51.70 | 8,916 | 3.1% | $301,985 | $67,929 | 2,860 | |
| 46 | Enterprise | 52.50 | 29,505 | 5.4% | $202,764 | $73,125 | 3,132 | |
| 47 | Troy | 53.10 | 17,716 | 2.7% | $181,784 | $50,717 | 4,036 | |
| 48 | Clay | 53.20 | 10,273 | 4.6% | $250,060 | $81,920 | 8,630 | |
| 49 | Tuscaloosa | 53.55 | 111,038 | 7.7% | $228,947 | $51,464 | 3,367 | |
| 50 | Scottsboro | 53.70 | 15,712 | 3.5% | $213,721 | $53,929 | 2,005 | |
| 51 | Boaz | 53.80 | 10,814 | 2.1% | $209,918 | $49,846 | 3,983 | |
| 52 | Decatur | 54.40 | 57,361 | 4.5% | $224,155 | $61,563 | 2,974 | |
| 53 | Midfield | 55.15 | 5,045 | 7.2% | $82,421 | $52,755 | 951 | |
| 54 | Jacksonville | 55.40 | 14,437 | 7.5% | $211,263 | $51,814 | 2,327 | |
| 55 | Opelika | 55.50 | 32,820 | 5.6% | $304,313 | $65,004 | 3,342 | |
| 56 | Arab | 55.60 | 8,679 | 3.2% | $241,411 | $64,333 | 3,929 | |
| 57 | Albertville | 56.10 | 22,813 | 6.0% | $214,034 | $56,099 | 2,034 | |
| 58 | Glencoe | 56.20 | 5,353 | 3.2% | $207,535 | $68,517 | 5,157 | |
| 59 | Lincoln | 56.30 | 7,305 | 3.5% | $229,657 | $57,145 | 2,820 | |
| 60 | Leeds | 56.45 | 12,028 | 2.6% | $249,223 | $69,737 | 3,010 | |
| 61 | Attalla | 56.50 | 5,775 | 5.5% | $141,964 | $59,215 | 3,983 | |
| 62 | Mobile | 56.70 | 203,416 | 5.6% | $194,564 | $53,558 | 2,828 | |
| 63 | Sheffield | 57.05 | 9,340 | 5.2% | $133,841 | $39,733 | 2,398 | |
| 64 | Montgomery | 58.10 | 197,494 | 6.4% | $151,228 | $56,811 | 2,776 | |
| 65 | Jasper | 58.15 | 14,442 | 3.5% | $168,864 | $66,238 | 4,743 | |
| 66 | Brewton | 59.90 | 5,186 | 4.3% | $149,232 | $50,721 | 4,531 | |
| 67 | Valley | 59.90 | 10,277 | 3.5% | $177,525 | $51,661 | 4,204 | |
| 68 | Hamilton | 60.20 | 6,922 | 3.9% | $172,641 | $54,871 | 1,936 | |
| 69 | Dothan | 60.20 | 71,514 | 4.3% | $203,928 | $55,792 | 3,668 | |
| 70 | Pinson | 61.00 | 7,832 | 6.1% | $216,703 | $76,410 | 8,630 | |
| 71 | Bay Minette | 61.70 | 8,295 | 7.2% | $212,243 | $44,523 | 2,086 | |
| 72 | Roanoke | 62.00 | 5,336 | 3.4% | $148,369 | $47,105 | 4,723 | |
| 73 | Fairfield | 62.55 | 9,728 | 6.5% | $93,495 | $48,456 | 8,630 | |
| 74 | Chickasaw | 63.85 | 6,332 | 4.6% | $107,053 | $46,559 | 2,543 | |
| 75 | Clanton | 64.00 | 8,958 | 7.1% | $217,129 | $47,520 | 3,740 | |
| 76 | Fort Payne | 64.05 | 14,927 | 5.0% | $203,035 | $47,479 | 1,782 | |
| 77 | Hueytown | 64.10 | 16,414 | 8.6% | $163,400 | $62,784 | 3,016 | |
| 78 | Russellville | 64.20 | 10,799 | 4.9% | $178,141 | $58,231 | 2,084 | |
| 79 | Tallassee | 64.25 | 5,134 | 8.1% | $192,630 | $66,752 | 6,876 | |
| 80 | Demopolis | 64.30 | 6,908 | 1.7% | $152,101 | $34,802 | 3,590 | |
| 81 | Monroeville | 64.50 | 5,802 | 11.3% | $139,433 | $32,513 | 810 | |
| 82 | Sylacauga | 64.75 | 12,309 | 6.7% | $166,281 | $50,017 | 3,973 | |
| 83 | Semmes | 64.83 | 5,626 | 6.8% | $238,190 | $66,417 | 6,363 | |
| 84 | Oneonta | 66.45 | 6,971 | 1.8% | $213,540 | $53,980 | 3,486 | |
| 85 | Tuskegee | 68.70 | 8,938 | 10.8% | $91,299 | $38,000 | 2,540 | |
| 86 | Center Point | 68.70 | 15,914 | 8.1% | $152,329 | $56,417 | 8,630 | |
| 87 | Birmingham | 69.55 | 198,173 | 5.8% | $135,870 | $46,051 | 5,205 | |
| 88 | Lanett | 69.90 | 6,814 | 7.3% | $123,281 | $42,357 | 3,801 | |
| 89 | Selma | 70.50 | 17,057 | 14.0% | $79,209 | $33,197 | 2,955 | |
| 90 | Ozark | 73.40 | 14,327 | 9.1% | $143,766 | $48,944 | 3,455 | |
| 91 | Eufaula | 73.50 | 12,584 | 5.6% | $163,743 | $47,392 | 3,226 | |
| 92 | Andalusia | 74.10 | 8,766 | 6.7% | $170,025 | $42,611 | 4,369 | |
| 93 | Gadsden | 74.40 | 33,374 | 7.2% | $114,158 | $40,345 | 3,125 | |
| 94 | Greenville | 75.80 | 7,163 | 6.6% | $116,098 | $40,822 | 4,272 | |
| 95 | Opp | 77.10 | 6,709 | 5.2% | $118,904 | $41,347 | 2,281 | |
| 96 | Anniston | 77.80 | 21,271 | 6.4% | $147,195 | $46,668 | 5,157 | |
| 97 | Talladega | 78.20 | 14,760 | 12.6% | $143,575 | $44,198 | 3,936 | |
| 98 | Prichard | 79.30 | 18,961 | 10.1% | $57,932 | $36,588 | 2,732 | |
| 99 | Atmore | 83.70 | 8,334 | 18.2% | $154,610 | $38,862 | 4,932 | |
| 100 | Tarrant | 85.60 | 5,925 | 7.2% | $77,451 | $42,070 | 8,630 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, FBI UCR, Zillow research. 101 places with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: The Best Places In Alabama
If you’re looking at areas in Alabama with the best economic situations, where there’s lower than average crime, and a lot to do, this is an accurate list.
The best places to live in Alabama are Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Madison, Homewood, Hoover, Helena, Daphne, Trussville, Fairhope, and Satsuma.
Mountain Brook made a strong showing to take in the overall number one spot for the best place to live in Alabama for 2026.
