The 10 Best Places To Live In Alabama For 2024


The best places to live in Alabama for 2024 are Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, and Homewood. 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


The 10 Best Places To Live In Alabama For 2024

  1. Mountain Brook
  2. Vestavia Hills
  3. Homewood
  4. Madison
  5. Hoover
  6. Spanish Fort
  7. Helena
  8. Daphne
  9. Fairhope
  10. Pelham

What’s the best place to live in Alabama for 2024? Mountain Brook ranks as the best place to live in Alabama for 2024 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 2024

Best Places To Live In Alabama Map

Mountain Brook, AL

Source: Wikipedia User Robert Donovan from Franklin, TN, USA | CC BY 2.0
Stat Mountain Brook Alabama
Population 22,259 5,028,092
Rank Last Year 1
Median Home Value $887,856 $221,926
Median Income $167,007 $59,609
Unemployment Rate 0.9% 5.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0095 0.0254

More on Mountain Brook: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

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 2nd lowest unemployment rate and 2nd lowest poverty in Alabama. There’s also very little to fear in terms of criminal activity, seeing as Mountain Brook has the 10th 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
Stat Vestavia Hills Alabama
Population 38,600 5,028,092
Rank Last Year 2
Median Home Value $517,867 $221,926
Median Income $127,582 $59,609
Unemployment Rate 1.5% 5.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0081 0.0254

More on Vestavia Hills: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

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 $517,867. Residents don’t sweat it much, though, since they also earn a median household income of $127,582/year, the 2nd highest in the state. And it’s not like Vestavia Hills leaves some people in the dust while the 1% celebrate, because at 3.8%, it has the 6th 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.

Homewood, AL

Source: Public domain
Stat Homewood Alabama
Population 27,557 5,028,092
Rank Last Year 6
Median Home Value $496,963 $221,926
Median Income $97,366 $59,609
Unemployment Rate 2.0% 5.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0131 0.0254

More on Homewood: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Our 3rd best city in Alabama, Homewood, is a suburb of 27,557 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 16 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.

Madison, AL

Source: Wikipedia User Chris Pruitt | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Madison Alabama
Population 56,967 5,028,092
Rank Last Year 3
Median Home Value $371,983 $221,926
Median Income $118,132 $59,609
Unemployment Rate 3.0% 5.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0315 0.0254

More on Madison: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

We’re taking our first foray outside of the Birmingham area to reach our 4th 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 4th highest in Alabama at $118,132/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.

Hoover, AL

Source: Wikipedia User Elizabeth Swift | CC BY 2.0
Stat Hoover Alabama
Population 91,995 5,028,092
Rank Last Year 7
Median Home Value $423,088 $221,926
Median Income $101,765 $59,609
Unemployment Rate 3.9% 5.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0167 0.0254

More on Hoover: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

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 91,995 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 $101,765, the 8th best figure in Alabama. The median home value here comes in at $423,088.

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.

Spanish Fort, AL

Source: Wikipedia User JodyB | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Spanish Fort Alabama
Population 10,083 5,028,092
Rank Last Year 10
Median Home Value $386,694 $221,926
Median Income $98,350 $59,609
Unemployment Rate 1.9% 5.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0187 0.0254

More on Spanish Fort: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Spanish Fort, located on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, is ranked 6 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 98,350 and holds the 13th lowest unemployment rate in Alabama.

The housing market is favorable, with median home values at $386,694. 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.

Helena, AL

Source: Wikipedia User Civilengtiger | GFDL
Stat Helena Alabama
Population 21,036 5,028,092
Rank Last Year 23
Median Home Value $344,616 $221,926
Median Income $107,360 $59,609
Unemployment Rate 2.1% 5.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0068 0.0254

More on Helena: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Helena is a Birmingham suburb of 21,036 with a penchant for awesomeness. The crime rate in Helena is roughly 60% lower than the national average and ranks as the 8th 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 16th lowest unemployment rate in the state. Residents of Helena are also among the richest in Alabama, with a median household income of $107,360/year. And with homes going for a reasonable $344,616, Helena also enjoys the best home price to income ratio on this list.

Daphne, AL

Source: Public domain
Stat Daphne Alabama
Population 27,861 5,028,092
Rank Last Year 4
Median Home Value $317,169 $221,926
Median Income $80,657 $59,609
Unemployment Rate 2.8% 5.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0139 0.0254

More on Daphne: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

We’re heading back to the Mobile suburbs to reach our 8th 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 13th least amount of violent crime in Alabama for 2024. At $80,657/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 37, 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.

Fairhope, AL

Source: Flickr User faungg’s photos | CC BY-ND 2.0
Stat Fairhope Alabama
Population 22,605 5,028,092
Rank Last Year 5
Median Home Value $462,465 $221,926
Median Income $85,456 $59,609
Unemployment Rate 4.6% 5.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0180 0.0254

More on Fairhope: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Let’s take a trip down the Gulf Shore for our 9th best city in Alabama, Fairhope. The median age in Fairhope is 44, 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 $85,456/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.

Pelham, AL

Source: Wikipedia User Betsy | CC BY-SA 4.0
Stat Pelham Alabama
Population 24,221 5,028,092
Rank Last Year 20
Median Home Value $300,946 $221,926
Median Income $94,108 $59,609
Unemployment Rate 1.8% 5.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0149 0.0254

More on Pelham: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Pelham, a Birmingham suburb located 25 miles south of the city off of I-65, ranks as the 10th best place to live in Alabama. Pelham offers a fantastic blend of things to do, quality schools, a strong economy, and safety. The city is home to the largest park in Alabama, Oak Mountain State Park, which continues to grow in stature each year. Other big attractions include several high quality golf courses like Ballantrae, South City Theatre, and several community rec centers.

On the numbers side of things, Pelham City schools are ranked #1 by Niche for the Best School Districts in Shelby County and earn an A grade. The median income in town stands at $94,108 and the average house costs $300,946. And the crime rate is 25% better than the national average. Add it all up and it’s easy to see why Pelham landed a spot on this list.

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 199,819, 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 2024. 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, Homewood, Madison, Hoover, Spanish Fort, Helena, Daphne, Fairhope, and Pelham.

Mountain Brook made a strong showing to take in the overall number one spot for the best place to live in Alabama for 2024.

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

  1. Tarrant (Pop. 6,077)
  2. Atmore (Pop. 8,465)
  3. Bessemer (Pop. 25,890)

For more Alabama reading, check out:

Best Places To Live In Alabama Table

Rank City Population Unemployment Rate Home Value Median Income Rent Crime Per Capita
1 Mountain Brook 22,259 0.9% $887,856 $167,007 $1,521 0.0095
2 Vestavia Hills 38,600 1.5% $517,867 $127,582 $1,458 0.0081
3 Homewood 27,557 2.0% $496,963 $97,366 $1,337 0.0131
4 Madison 56,967 3.0% $371,983 $118,132 $1,201 0.0315
5 Hoover 91,995 3.9% $423,088 $101,765 $1,352 0.0167
6 Spanish Fort 10,083 1.9% $386,694 $98,350 $1,229 0.0187
7 Helena 21,036 2.1% $344,616 $107,360 $1,287 0.0068
8 Daphne 27,861 2.8% $317,169 $80,657 $1,308 0.0139
9 Fairhope 22,605 4.6% $462,465 $85,456 $1,575 0.0180
10 Pelham 24,221 1.8% $300,946 $94,108 $1,376 0.0149
11 Trussville 25,621 2.8% $376,558 $118,028 $1,389 0.0286
12 Auburn 76,660 3.0% $350,820 $55,509 $995 0.0136
13 Alabaster 33,417 3.0% $288,633 $89,423 $1,215 0.0223
14 Prattville 38,124 2.3% $233,140 $76,176 $1,261 0.0263
15 Satsuma 6,740 5.9% $228,979 $87,974 $1,233 0.0050
16 Gardendale 16,051 1.8% $257,779 $78,719 $1,201 0.0266
17 Pike Road 9,651 1.8% $391,577 $119,928 $1,458 0.0300
18 Glencoe 5,343 1.5% $194,932 $68,893 $758 0.0054
19 Northport 30,714 5.6% $257,877 $72,286 $936 0.0201
20 Tuscumbia 9,029 1.2% $177,073 $47,530 $741 0.0031
21 Muscle Shoals 16,334 3.2% $239,988 $70,493 $957 0.0290
22 Huntsville 215,025 4.6% $276,878 $67,874 $1,020 0.0184
23 Hartselle 15,414 3.9% $231,775 $64,876 $775 0.0124
24 Southside 9,358 3.4% $254,667 $70,843 $1,105 0.0028
25 Pleasant Grove 9,549 4.6% $224,499 $72,917 $1,183 0.0120
26 Margaret 5,294 3.4% $259,656 $83,814 $872 0.0064
27 Moody 13,235 3.9% $257,342 $77,680 $1,220 0.0123
28 Millbrook 16,631 4.5% $196,171 $63,521 $1,027 0.0277
29 Cullman 18,434 2.6% $235,534 $59,982 $840 0.0384
30 Orange Beach 8,048 4.4% $701,196 $90,402 $1,260 0.0296
31 Fultondale 9,756 2.7% $220,246 $72,741 $1,097 0.0293
32 Rainsville 5,545 1.2% $203,975 $60,339 $626 0.0031
33 Chelsea 15,201 4.1% $372,677 $102,344 $1,486 0.1210
34 Saraland 16,109 4.1% $222,397 $62,802 $972 0.0212
35 Gulf Shores 15,178 2.4% $468,361 $62,021 $1,181 0.0295
36 Irondale 13,455 9.3% $266,185 $68,869 $1,182 0.0284
37 Calera 16,644 1.0% $248,784 $73,775 $1,561 0.0501
38 Leeds 12,292 1.4% $237,534 $67,159 $938 0.0220
39 Headland 5,027 4.0% $202,247 $80,811 $698 0.0105
40 Enterprise 28,513 4.1% $200,569 $64,888 $974 0.0316
41 Robertsdale 6,793 1.5% $263,043 $55,345 $962 0.0608
42 Montevallo 7,288 11.5% $225,034 $56,500 $942 0.0110
43 Clay 10,315 2.4% $244,802 $74,198 $918 0.0901
44 Wetumpka 7,129 5.4% $257,347 $54,477 $976 0.0366
45 Athens 26,179 4.3% $292,471 $57,444 $766 0.0315
46 Tuscaloosa 105,797 6.8% $207,537 $47,257 $980 0.0337
47 Troy 17,757 3.5% $180,377 $38,783 $826 0.0291
48 Semmes 5,123 2.3% $230,822 $61,433 $772 0.0677
49 Smiths Station 5,441 3.2% $256,069 $55,676 $984 0.0362
50 Foley 21,113 4.9% $296,222 $60,090 $960 0.0280
51 Decatur 57,525 5.1% $206,372 $55,164 $801 0.0303
52 Pinson 7,209 4.3% $206,702 $83,673 $1,310 0.0901
53 Arab 8,552 3.0% $218,349 $56,471 $667 0.0372
54 Guntersville 8,644 3.7% $275,377 $61,453 $722 0.0352
55 Oxford 22,019 4.6% $177,057 $66,031 $883 0.0319
56 Valley 10,442 2.4% $146,407 $54,237 $979 0.0419
57 Florence 40,781 5.7% $190,715 $47,048 $757 0.0317
58 Attalla 5,849 2.5% $121,864 $51,875 $591 0.0824
59 Lincoln 6,968 7.4% $234,743 $65,042 $997 0.0284
60 Montgomery 199,819 7.2% $137,269 $54,166 $1,026 0.0300
61 Jacksonville 14,227 6.9% $192,734 $46,451 $752 0.0267
62 Sheffield 9,330 3.8% $116,822 $39,666 $765 0.0290
63 Hueytown 16,655 7.8% $162,864 $64,176 $1,177 0.0372
64 Scottsboro 15,543 3.8% $192,512 $49,287 $734 0.0341
65 Opelika 31,361 5.1% $270,539 $55,218 $872 0.0362
66 Demopolis 7,080 0.0% $153,312 $51,364 $679 0.0387
67 Midfield 5,159 6.8% $81,363 $48,219 $1,125 0.0157
68 Boaz 10,248 2.0% $185,474 $43,276 $607 0.0824
69 Russellville 10,767 3.5% $152,015 $50,411 $639 0.0233
70 Albertville 22,433 6.0% $185,432 $55,933 $798 0.0352
71 Chickasaw 6,398 4.7% $100,413 $38,985 $871 0.0227
72 Jasper 14,453 5.3% $202,953 $62,850 $681 0.0510
73 Lanett 6,880 5.6% $107,150 $48,125 $785 0.0312
74 Tallassee 5,174 8.5% $164,771 $48,531 $860 0.0499
75 Mobile 186,316 6.5% $183,563 $48,524 $985 0.0506
76 Brewton 5,257 5.0% $149,753 $45,881 $596 0.0369
77 Dothan 70,699 5.1% $184,646 $53,704 $871 0.0486
78 Hamilton 6,880 6.9% $150,860 $50,882 $567 0.0038
79 Roanoke 5,346 3.4% $128,364 $43,664 $592 0.0342
80 Fort Payne 14,815 6.1% $181,111 $44,549 $665 0.0194
81 Sylacauga 12,465 8.9% $157,852 $46,137 $695 0.0380
82 Center Point 16,279 10.0% $152,646 $49,886 $1,050 0.0901
83 Fairfield 9,975 8.3% $89,729 $45,646 $998 0.0901
84 Opp 6,741 6.0% $97,515 $42,956 $679 0.0254
85 Selma 17,875 12.9% $53,690 $31,084 $679 0.0231
86 Clanton 8,776 6.0% $209,433 $48,566 $896 0.0501
87 Andalusia 8,841 6.6% $119,027 $44,196 $694 0.0439
88 Eufaula 12,746 5.2% $156,427 $39,511 $641 0.0293
89 Bay Minette 8,159 9.0% $210,089 $36,899 $756 0.0208
90 Tuskegee 9,173 11.3% $71,503 $32,449 $684 0.0231
91 Birmingham 200,431 7.5% $102,370 $42,464 $995 0.0570
92 Greenville 7,326 7.6% $109,448 $39,087 $728 0.0330
93 Ozark 14,373 10.1% $139,034 $47,407 $788 0.0394
94 Gadsden 33,881 8.8% $87,217 $39,696 $765 0.0440
95 Monroeville 5,917 14.5% $134,923 $32,040 $641 0.0321
96 Oneonta 6,925 7.0% $199,742 $44,167 $624 0.0406
97 Anniston 21,502 5.5% $121,785 $45,642 $806 0.0618
98 Prichard 19,353 10.5% $42,254 $36,110 $861 0.0287
99 Talladega 15,071 14.3% $144,296 $37,945 $687 0.0317
100 Tarrant 6,077 6.5% $66,566 $37,768 $884 0.0689

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.