The 10 Best Places To Live In Alabama For 2026


The best places to live in Alabama for 2026 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 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.


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


The 10 Best Places To Live In Alabama For 2026

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

What’s the best place to live in Alabama for 2026? Mountain Brook ranks as the best place to live in Alabama for 2026 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 2026

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 22,029 5,086,768
Rank Last Year 1
Median Home Value $1,028,341 $236,452
Median Income $201,479 $63,999
Unemployment Rate 1.2% 4.7%
Crime Per Capita 0.0082 0.0195

More on Mountain Brook: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

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.”

Vestavia Hills, AL

Source: Flickr User Andy Montgomery | CC BY-SA 2.0
Stat Vestavia Hills Alabama
Population 38,616 5,086,768
Rank Last Year 2
Median Home Value $561,212 $236,452
Median Income $134,369 $63,999
Unemployment Rate 1.9% 4.7%
Crime Per Capita 0.0071 0.0195

More on Vestavia Hills: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

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 $561,212. 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.

Madison, AL

Source: Wikipedia User Chris Pruitt | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Madison Alabama
Population 60,106 5,086,768
Rank Last Year 3
Median Home Value $374,497 $236,452
Median Income $134,655 $63,999
Unemployment Rate 2.2% 4.7%
Crime Per Capita 0.0159 0.0195

More on Madison: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers

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.

Homewood, AL

Source: Public domain
Stat Homewood Alabama
Population 27,829 5,086,768
Rank Last Year 4
Median Home Value $558,046 $236,452
Median Income $94,485 $63,999
Unemployment Rate 2.3% 4.7%
Crime Per Capita 0.0211 0.0195

More on Homewood: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers

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.

Hoover, AL

Source: Wikipedia User Elizabeth Swift | CC BY 2.0
Stat Hoover Alabama
Population 92,642 5,086,768
Rank Last Year 5
Median Home Value $437,227 $236,452
Median Income $109,253 $63,999
Unemployment Rate 3.5% 4.7%
Crime Per Capita 0.0133 0.0195

More on Hoover: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

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 6.0 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 $437,227.

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.

Helena, AL

Source: Wikipedia User Civilengtiger | GFDL
Stat Helena Alabama
Population 21,769 5,086,768
Rank Last Year 7
Median Home Value $363,042 $236,452
Median Income $115,139 $63,999
Unemployment Rate 2.0% 4.7%
Crime Per Capita 0.0052 0.0195

More on Helena: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers

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.

Daphne, AL

Source: Public domain
Stat Daphne Alabama
Population 29,453 5,086,768
Rank Last Year 6
Median Home Value $326,736 $236,452
Median Income $87,250 $63,999
Unemployment Rate 2.3% 4.7%
Crime Per Capita 0.0095 0.0195

More on Daphne: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

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.

Trussville, AL

Source: Wikipedia User Joshhearts | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Trussville Alabama
Population 26,673 5,086,768
Rank Last Year 8
Median Home Value $394,833 $236,452
Median Income $123,275 $63,999
Unemployment Rate 1.2% 4.7%
Crime Per Capita 0.0213 0.0195

More on Trussville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

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.

Fairhope, AL

Source: Flickr User faungg’s photos | CC BY-ND 2.0
Stat Fairhope Alabama
Population 24,190 5,086,768
Rank Last Year 9
Median Home Value $459,929 $236,452
Median Income $94,274 $63,999
Unemployment Rate 3.5% 4.7%
Crime Per Capita 0.0134 0.0195

More on Fairhope: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

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.

Satsuma, AL

Source: Flickr User jimmywayne | CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Stat Satsuma Alabama
Population 6,822 5,086,768
Rank Last Year 11
Median Home Value $237,698 $236,452
Median Income $101,042 $63,999
Unemployment Rate 5.0% 4.7%
Crime Per Capita 0.0084 0.0195

More on Satsuma: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

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 197,494, 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 101 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 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.

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.

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

  1. Atmore (Pop. 8,334)
  2. Tarrant (Pop. 5,925)
  3. Bessemer (Pop. 25,400)

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 22,029 1.2% $1,028,341 $201,479 $1,456 0.0082
2 Vestavia Hills 38,616 1.9% $561,212 $134,369 $1,515 0.0071
3 Madison 60,106 2.2% $374,497 $134,655 $1,453 0.0159
4 Homewood 27,829 2.3% $558,046 $94,485 $1,463 0.0211
5 Hoover 92,642 3.5% $437,227 $109,253 $1,457 0.0133
6 Helena 21,769 2.0% $363,042 $115,139 $1,574 0.0052
7 Daphne 29,453 2.3% $326,736 $87,250 $1,388 0.0095
8 Trussville 26,673 1.2% $394,833 $123,275 $1,711 0.0213
9 Fairhope 24,190 3.5% $459,929 $94,274 $1,689 0.0134
10 Satsuma 6,822 5.0% $237,698 $101,042 $1,300 0.0084
11 Chelsea 16,260 3.2% $384,777 $115,337 $1,414 0.0163
12 Pelham 24,827 2.0% $323,686 $101,094 $1,577 0.0091
13 Prattville 39,482 1.8% $262,195 $81,337 $1,313 0.0214
14 Auburn 80,594 3.2% $412,907 $63,668 $1,098 0.0113
15 Spanish Fort 10,662 4.4% $379,955 $99,346 $1,390 0.0153
16 Southside 9,483 2.9% $269,900 $76,487 $1,184 0.0043
17 Rainsville 5,702 1.0% $227,372 $74,046 $519 0.0046
18 Alabaster 33,917 2.5% $303,749 $91,357 $1,372 0.0163
19 Pleasant Grove 9,442 1.7% $225,144 $70,317 $1,400 0.0101
20 Springville 5,081 3.2% $321,266 $84,231 $834 0.0157
21 Gardendale 16,534 3.4% $266,522 $82,192 $1,299 0.0174
22 Orange Beach 8,407 3.8% $678,808 $97,736 $1,576 0.0227
23 Tuscumbia 9,115 1.7% $196,274 $59,143 $748 0.0052
24 Moody 13,488 5.7% $259,874 $86,627 $1,553 0.0103
25 Northport 31,218 5.7% $266,846 $80,913 $982 0.0337
26 Gulf Shores 16,401 2.4% $450,266 $78,188 $1,483 0.0221
27 Saraland 16,404 3.6% $233,993 $61,509 $1,060 0.0180
28 Hartselle 15,847 3.1% $246,208 $76,290 $804 0.0294
29 Muscle Shoals 16,951 2.3% $260,072 $75,894 $1,029 0.0327
30 Huntsville 222,791 4.1% $287,569 $74,714 $1,171 0.0295
31 Calera 17,714 2.7% $254,700 $87,194 $1,601 0.0165
32 Cullman 19,319 2.9% $261,636 $61,224 $925 0.0284
33 Irondale 13,464 8.5% $289,626 $72,343 $1,320 0.0159
34 Fultondale 9,384 3.3% $228,867 $73,575 $1,269 0.0306
35 Headland 5,217 1.5% $224,991 $79,063 $822 0.0159
36 Millbrook 17,189 6.6% $218,705 $70,313 $1,111 0.0378
37 Robertsdale 7,194 0.3% $267,052 $59,152 $996 0.0310
38 Smiths Station 5,496 2.0% $280,274 $64,669 $1,012 0.0334
39 Athens 29,002 3.1% $307,880 $69,922 $899 0.0262
40 Foley 24,026 3.5% $301,569 $66,336 $1,242 0.0189
41 Montevallo 7,556 7.2% $248,376 $56,626 $956 0.0118
42 Wetumpka 7,437 8.9% $278,367 $57,763 $1,140 0.0144
43 Oxford 22,063 5.5% $195,937 $74,268 $925 0.0281
44 Florence 41,701 6.3% $210,214 $52,174 $820 0.0273
45 Guntersville 8,916 3.1% $301,984 $67,929 $842 0.0286
46 Enterprise 29,505 5.4% $202,764 $73,125 $1,098 0.0313
47 Troy 17,716 2.7% $181,784 $50,717 $922 0.0404
48 Clay 10,273 4.6% $250,060 $81,920 $2,240 0.0863
49 Tuscaloosa 111,038 7.7% $228,947 $51,464 $1,055 0.0337
50 Scottsboro 15,712 3.5% $213,720 $53,929 $830 0.0200
51 Boaz 10,814 2.1% $209,918 $49,846 $663 0.0398
52 Decatur 57,361 4.5% $224,155 $61,563 $896 0.0297
53 Midfield 5,045 7.2% $82,421 $52,755 $1,244 0.0095
54 Jacksonville 14,437 7.5% $211,263 $51,814 $820 0.0233
55 Opelika 32,820 5.6% $304,313 $65,004 $950 0.0334
56 Arab 8,679 3.2% $241,411 $64,333 $718 0.0393
57 Albertville 22,813 6.0% $214,034 $56,099 $872 0.0203
58 Glencoe 5,353 3.2% $207,534 $68,517 $736 0.0516
59 Lincoln 7,305 3.5% $229,657 $57,145 $919 0.0282
60 Leeds 12,028 2.6% $249,222 $69,737 $1,058 0.0301
61 Attalla 5,775 5.5% $141,963 $59,215 $743 0.0398
62 Mobile 203,416 5.6% $194,563 $53,558 $1,068 0.0283
63 Sheffield 9,340 5.2% $133,841 $39,733 $829 0.0240
64 Montgomery 197,494 6.4% $151,228 $56,811 $1,089 0.0278
65 Jasper 14,442 3.5% $168,863 $66,238 $721 0.0474
66 Brewton 5,186 4.3% $149,231 $50,721 $695 0.0453
67 Valley 10,277 3.5% $177,525 $51,661 $1,016 0.0420
68 Hamilton 6,922 3.9% $172,640 $54,871 $599 0.0194
69 Dothan 71,514 4.3% $203,928 $55,792 $960 0.0367
70 Pinson 7,832 6.1% $216,703 $76,410 $1,509 0.0863
71 Bay Minette 8,295 7.2% $212,242 $44,523 $782 0.0209
72 Roanoke 5,336 3.4% $148,369 $47,105 $666 0.0472
73 Fairfield 9,728 6.5% $93,495 $48,456 $1,008 0.0863
74 Chickasaw 6,332 4.6% $107,053 $46,559 $960 0.0254
75 Clanton 8,958 7.1% $217,128 $47,520 $869 0.0374
76 Fort Payne 14,927 5.0% $203,034 $47,479 $679 0.0178
77 Hueytown 16,414 8.6% $163,400 $62,784 $1,304 0.0302
78 Russellville 10,799 4.9% $178,141 $58,231 $685 0.0208
79 Tallassee 5,134 8.1% $192,630 $66,752 $964 0.0688
80 Demopolis 6,908 1.7% $152,100 $34,802 $692 0.0359
81 Monroeville 5,802 11.3% $139,433 $32,513 $577 0.0081
82 Sylacauga 12,309 6.7% $166,280 $50,017 $773 0.0397
83 Semmes 5,626 6.8% $238,189 $66,417 $1,057 0.0636
84 Oneonta 6,971 1.8% $213,539 $53,980 $638 0.0349
85 Tuskegee 8,938 10.8% $91,298 $38,000 $757 0.0254
86 Center Point 15,914 8.1% $152,329 $56,417 $1,218 0.0863
87 Birmingham 198,173 5.8% $135,870 $46,051 $1,107 0.0520
88 Lanett 6,814 7.3% $123,280 $42,357 $940 0.0380
89 Selma 17,057 14.0% $79,208 $33,197 $713 0.0295
90 Ozark 14,327 9.1% $143,765 $48,944 $694 0.0346
91 Eufaula 12,584 5.6% $163,743 $47,392 $698 0.0323
92 Andalusia 8,766 6.7% $170,024 $42,611 $730 0.0437
93 Gadsden 33,374 7.2% $114,157 $40,345 $808 0.0313
94 Greenville 7,163 6.6% $116,098 $40,822 $730 0.0427
95 Opp 6,709 5.2% $118,903 $41,347 $720 0.0228
96 Anniston 21,271 6.4% $147,195 $46,668 $799 0.0516
97 Talladega 14,760 12.6% $143,575 $44,198 $776 0.0394
98 Prichard 18,961 10.1% $57,931 $36,588 $922 0.0273
99 Atmore 8,334 18.2% $154,609 $38,862 $777 0.0493
100 Tarrant 5,925 7.2% $77,450 $42,070 $985 0.0863

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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.