The 10 Best Places To Live In Alabama For 2025


The best places to live in Alabama for 2025 are Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, and Madison. Find out where your city or town ranks.

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 102 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.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Table | Map | Methodology | Summary


What’s the best place to live in Alabama for 2025? Mountain Brook ranks as the best place to live in Alabama for 2025 based on general quality of life factors.

None of the largest cities in Alabama made the top ten, but their suburbs are apparently more desirable, according to scientific data.

For more reading, check out:

The 10 Best Places To Live In Alabama For 2025

Best Places To Live In Alabama Map

Mountain Brook, AL

Source: Wikipedia User Robert Donovan from Franklin, TN, USA | CC BY 2.0
StatMountain BrookAlabama
Population22,1605,054,253
Rank Last Year1
Median Home Value$891,300$195,100
Median Income$191,128$62,027
Unemployment Rate1.0%4.8%
Crime Per Capita0.01040.0196

More on Mountain Brook: Data

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 7th lowest unemployment rate and 3rd lowest poverty in Alabama. There’s also very little to fear in terms of criminal activity, seeing as Mountain Brook has the 8th 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.”

Vestavia Hills, AL

Source: Flickr User Andy Montgomery | CC BY-SA 2.0
StatVestavia HillsAlabama
Population38,7045,054,253
Rank Last Year2
Median Home Value$494,500$195,100
Median Income$129,171$62,027
Unemployment Rate1.7%4.8%
Crime Per Capita0.00910.0196

More on Vestavia Hills: Data

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 $494,500. Residents don’t sweat it much, though, since they also earn a median household income of $129,171/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 9.0%, it has the 23rd 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.

Madison, AL

Source: Wikipedia User Chris Pruitt | CC BY-SA 3.0
StatMadisonAlabama
Population58,3355,054,253
Rank Last Year5
Median Home Value$367,900$195,100
Median Income$131,436$62,027
Unemployment Rate2.5%4.8%
Crime Per Capita0.01090.0196

More on Madison: Data

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 $131,436/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.

Homewood, AL

Source: Public domain
StatHomewoodAlabama
Population27,6975,054,253
Rank Last Year3
Median Home Value$502,300$195,100
Median Income$108,386$62,027
Unemployment Rate2.1%4.8%
Crime Per Capita0.02660.0196

More on Homewood: Data

Our 4th best city in Alabama, Homewood, is a suburb of 27,697 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 1st 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.

Hoover, AL

Source: Wikipedia User Elizabeth Swift | CC BY 2.0
StatHooverAlabama
Population92,4015,054,253
Rank Last Year4
Median Home Value$391,300$195,100
Median Income$107,822$62,027
Unemployment Rate4.0%4.8%
Crime Per Capita0.01500.0196

More on Hoover: Data

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 92,401 residents, Hoover itself stands among Alabama’s biggest cities. It comes in at number 6.0 on that list. The community also has one of the most thriving economies in the area. The area’s median income is $107,822, the 9th best figure in Alabama. The median home value here comes in at $391,300.

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.

Daphne, AL

Source: Public domain
StatDaphneAlabama
Population28,6735,054,253
Rank Last Year8
Median Home Value$309,700$195,100
Median Income$86,479$62,027
Unemployment Rate2.1%4.8%
Crime Per Capita0.01280.0196

More on Daphne: Data

We’re heading back to the Mobile suburbs to reach our 6th 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 3rd least amount of violent crime in Alabama for 2025. At $86,479/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 39, 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.

Helena, AL

Source: Wikipedia User Civilengtiger | GFDL
StatHelenaAlabama
Population21,4525,054,253
Rank Last Year7
Median Home Value$292,700$195,100
Median Income$109,590$62,027
Unemployment Rate2.1%4.8%
Crime Per Capita0.00600.0196

More on Helena: Data

Helena is a Birmingham suburb of 21,452 with a penchant for awesomeness. The crime rate in Helena is roughly 60% lower than the national average and ranks as the 3rd 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 20th lowest unemployment rate in the state. Residents of Helena are also among the richest in Alabama, with a median household income of $109,590/year. And with homes going for a reasonable $292,700, Helena also enjoys the best home price to income ratio on this list.

Trussville, AL

Source: Wikipedia User Joshhearts | CC BY-SA 3.0
StatTrussvilleAlabama
Population26,1825,054,253
Rank Last Year11
Median Home Value$351,500$195,100
Median Income$120,794$62,027
Unemployment Rate1.8%4.8%
Crime Per Capita0.02150.0196

More on Trussville: Data

Next up on our list of best places to live in Alabama is Trussville, a Birmingham suburb of 26,182. 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 2nd lowest high school dropout rate in Alabama.

That level of excellence extends to all facets of life in Trussville. For example, at 96.0%, Trussville has the 7th highest rate of residents with health insurance anywhere in Alabama. And the poverty level in Trussville is just 1.6%, the 1st%. Not to mention that most people in Trussville are far from living in poverty, seeing as the city enjoys the 5th highest median household income in the state at $120,794/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.

Fairhope, AL

Source: Flickr User faungg’s photos | CC BY-ND 2.0
StatFairhopeAlabama
Population23,3605,054,253
Rank Last Year9
Median Home Value$406,500$195,100
Median Income$86,509$62,027
Unemployment Rate3.6%4.8%
Crime Per Capita0.01580.0196

More on Fairhope: Data

Let’s take a trip down the Gulf Shore for our 9th best city in Alabama, Fairhope. The median age in Fairhope is 47, 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 $86,509/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.

Spanish Fort, AL

Source: Wikipedia User JodyB | CC BY-SA 3.0
StatSpanish FortAlabama
Population10,3775,054,253
Rank Last Year6
Median Home Value$314,000$195,100
Median Income$101,574$62,027
Unemployment Rate0.9%4.8%
Crime Per Capita0.01910.0196

More on Spanish Fort: Data

Spanish Fort, located on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, is ranked 10 among Alabama’s best places to live. The city sits near U.S. Routes 90 and 98, alongside Interstate 10, ensuring an average commute time of 23 minutes. Spanish Fort excels economically with a median income of 101,574 and holds the 3rd lowest unemployment rate in Alabama.

The housing market is favorable, with median home values at $314,000. The city has low per capita violent and property crime rates. Add it all together with a dash of the Eastern Shore Centre, and Spanish Fort is great.

Mapping The Best And Worst Places To Live in Alabama

Best Places To Live In Alabama Size Requirement

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 Montgomery, with a population of 198,440, 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

This filter left 102 cities, 198 towns, and 214 small towns.

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.’

Methodology: How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In Alabama

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 102, 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 2025. This report is our tenth 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.

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, Daphne, Helena, Trussville, Fairhope, and Spanish Fort.

Mountain Brook made a strong showing to take in the overall number one spot for the best place to live in Alabama for 2025.

If you’re curious enough, here are the worst places to live in Alabama according to the data:

  1. Bessemer (Pop. 25,655)
  2. Atmore (Pop. 8,389)
  3. Tarrant (Pop. 6,014)

For more Alabama reading, check out:

Best Places To Live In Alabama Table

RankCityPopulationUnemployment RateHome ValueMedian IncomeRentCrime Per Capita
1Mountain Brook22,1601.0%$891,300$191,128$1,4440.0104
2Vestavia Hills38,7041.7%$494,500$129,171$1,4550.0091
3Madison58,3352.5%$367,900$131,436$1,3750.0109
4Homewood27,6972.1%$502,300$108,386$1,4570.0266
5Hoover92,4014.0%$391,300$107,822$1,4040.0150
6Daphne28,6732.1%$309,700$86,479$1,3370.0128
7Helena21,4522.1%$292,700$109,590$1,4200.0060
8Trussville26,1821.8%$351,500$120,794$1,4500.0215
9Fairhope23,3603.6%$406,500$86,509$1,6370.0158
10Spanish Fort10,3770.9%$314,000$101,574$1,2460.0191
11Satsuma6,7845.8%$199,800$97,550$1,2240.0096
12Prattville38,8502.0%$208,500$79,396$1,2500.0243
13Pelham24,5101.7%$278,900$91,904$1,5730.0127
14Alabaster33,6333.3%$242,600$90,163$1,3750.0175
15Chelsea15,7313.6%$339,400$110,056$1,4560.0207
16Auburn78,7383.8%$342,400$56,123$1,0340.0136
17Huntsville218,8144.3%$263,100$70,778$1,0780.0086
18Pike Road10,1031.3%$375,000$121,687$1,6150.0285
19Calera17,1881.0%$214,200$82,441$1,5050.0176
20Northport30,9915.3%$258,800$77,781$9540.0227
21Southside9,4073.5%$202,900$73,695$1,1310.0033
22Muscle Shoals16,6702.4%$198,300$70,927$9390.0323
23Orange Beach8,2443.9%$476,000$89,034$1,3390.0275
24Gardendale16,1103.2%$234,900$81,215$1,1510.0277
25Rainsville5,6131.0%$207,800$64,140$6470.0018
26Hartselle15,5864.4%$192,200$67,863$7510.0183
27Pleasant Grove9,5021.6%$189,100$68,344$1,1530.0221
28Moody13,3785.1%$222,500$86,389$1,4630.0116
29Saraland16,3043.6%$210,500$60,577$1,0710.0224
30Tuscumbia9,0841.3%$166,400$47,342$7600.0066
31Gulf Shores15,7852.6%$367,000$73,873$1,3630.0280
32Cullman18,8942.8%$215,200$63,704$9210.0323
33Margaret5,5382.5%$224,700$97,075$8810.0250
34Millbrook16,9235.3%$193,600$64,522$1,0350.0371
35Headland5,1240.4%$190,700$82,736$7930.0185
36Irondale13,4628.7%$250,000$71,240$1,1770.0223
37Robertsdale6,9850.9%$198,200$55,707$9970.0292
38Fultondale9,7534.0%$181,900$69,127$1,2140.0272
39Athens27,4743.3%$253,700$65,000$8340.0308
40Foley22,3305.6%$260,100$67,346$1,1690.0197
41Troy17,7333.1%$214,100$47,595$9430.0380
42Tuscaloosa107,6997.0%$236,600$48,536$1,0050.0370
43Leeds12,2211.1%$220,400$71,672$9450.0275
44Clay10,2883.4%$198,400$86,163$1,3730.1000
45Glencoe5,3562.6%$203,200$66,050$6380.0583
46Enterprise28,9904.5%$198,500$68,306$1,0580.0364
47Sheffield9,3344.9%$127,100$42,097$8500.0178
48Florence41,2315.9%$174,100$50,396$7840.0291
49Montevallo7,4298.1%$210,400$54,665$9060.0105
50Decatur57,7605.0%$190,500$59,831$8610.0292
51Smiths Station5,4431.5%$184,400$57,410$9460.0373
52Guntersville8,7713.4%$293,500$67,448$7850.0438
53Oxford22,0634.8%$164,700$70,065$8820.0302
54Arab8,5733.0%$196,700$60,985$6970.0385
55Wetumpka7,1826.0%$184,100$54,945$1,0880.0188
56Midfield5,1015.3%$93,700$51,776$1,1990.0116
57Semmes5,4043.3%$211,100$66,458$8980.0788
58Valley10,4062.2%$130,500$55,422$1,0240.0418
59Jasper14,4803.5%$208,000$66,250$7220.0472
60Scottsboro15,6413.4%$175,700$52,949$7920.0221
61Tallassee5,0565.9%$138,600$63,534$8570.0455
62Lincoln7,1355.9%$181,900$60,793$9110.0308
63Montgomery198,4406.4%$148,500$55,687$1,0590.0285
64Chickasaw6,3673.1%$110,300$42,854$9450.0243
65Opelika31,9445.1%$213,700$58,763$9470.0373
66Jacksonville14,3457.6%$179,600$47,146$7940.0263
67Albertville22,5845.8%$158,900$57,103$8150.0214
68Brewton5,2324.1%$144,400$48,766$6380.0533
69Boaz10,8472.0%$158,200$49,962$6450.0746
70Mobile185,0975.9%$170,300$51,090$1,0290.0435
71Dothan71,1184.5%$186,600$55,052$9120.0432
72Pinson7,8516.1%$194,300$80,349$1,4060.1000
73Hueytown16,5417.2%$142,900$62,362$1,2760.0267
74Roanoke5,3322.8%$129,100$48,083$5890.0552
75Hamilton6,9074.4%$103,500$53,714$5440.0182
76Fort Payne14,8866.0%$158,100$48,623$6700.0161
77Russellville10,7833.8%$117,300$52,529$7160.0256
78Fairfield9,8465.7%$120,100$48,492$9970.1000
79Demopolis7,0100.0%$198,900$41,457$6870.0474
80Clanton8,8626.1%$158,200$49,952$9480.0458
81Tuskegee9,07012.9%$98,500$38,160$7060.0225
82Attalla5,8295.6%$120,400$55,429$6170.0746
83Sylacauga12,3887.9%$156,800$46,384$7170.0340
84Andalusia8,8415.8%$156,000$47,500$6800.0423
85Center Point16,12510.1%$130,200$52,401$1,1610.1000
86Selma17,44214.4%$102,500$32,184$7230.0263
87Lanett6,85412.6%$98,700$42,415$7850.0338
88Birmingham199,3226.1%$138,600$44,376$1,0470.0599
89Eufaula12,6644.1%$137,400$45,550$6600.0310
90Greenville7,2297.3%$117,800$40,744$7280.0408
91Opp6,7524.5%$117,000$41,346$7230.0273
92Oneonta6,9435.1%$195,600$47,719$6440.0400
93Monroeville5,87514.5%$115,800$31,629$5890.0269
94Bay Minette8,2157.0%$146,500$39,737$7670.0287
95Talladega15,04112.5%$116,600$46,820$7650.0412
96Gadsden33,6178.9%$101,900$38,699$7870.0444
97Anniston21,3776.1%$141,600$44,806$7770.0583
98Ozark14,3489.1%$138,600$46,951$7730.0432
99Prichard19,12110.5%$79,900$35,331$8760.0372
100Bessemer25,6558.8%$129,800$37,844$9220.1000

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.