Like all states, Alabama has certain places that are going on hard times. These Alabama places have an above-average percentage of people living in poverty, out of work, or not making as much as they should be.
Even as the economy continues to improve, it’s worthwhile to look at the places in each state struggling to make ends meet. So we set our sites on locating the poorest places in Alabama.
To do so, we used Saturday Night Science to analyze the newest Census data from the American Community Survey for the 105 cities in Alabama with more than 5,000 people.
$33,197 median income · 30.8% poverty · #2 lowest income in Alabama
Located in
Dallas County, Alabama
Selma, unfortunately, ranks as the poorest place in Alabama thanks to combination of low pay and and a lack of jobs.
The city of 17,057 people averages the 2nd lowest median household income in Alabama and the 4th highest poverty rate. At the very least, the cost of living ranks in the bottom 15% of place in the state, so things like housing are relatively affordable.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$32,513 median income · 28.8% poverty · #1 lowest income in Alabama
Located in
Monroe County, Alabama
The second poorest city in Alabama is Monroeville.
The city ranks as having the 7th highest incidence of poverty and lowest median household income. However, the unemployment rate ‘only’ ranks as the 4th highest in the Heart of Dixie.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$36,588 median income · 30.6% poverty · #4 lowest income in Alabama
Located in
Mobile County, Alabama
Placing as the third poorest city, Prichard’s median income ranks as the 4th lowest.
And that’s a sign that there’s a relatively substantial jump in the quality of the economy from second to third place on our list. The poverty rate is 30.6% and ranks near the bottom of places in the state.
But what makes up for the relatively low incomes of the city is its low cost of living. The income you do make here goes further than in most parts of the Heart of Dixie.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$38,000 median income · 29.0% poverty · #5 lowest income in Alabama
Located in
Macon County, Alabama
Tuskegee ranks as the fourth poorest place in Alabama.
The town ranks as having the 5th lowest median household income and the 6th highest incidence of poverty in the state.
That being said, there’s still a ton of cultural diversity in the city as it hosts many events throughout the year.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$40,822 median income · 31.6% poverty · #10 lowest income in Alabama
Located in
Butler County, Alabama
The fifth poorest city in Alabama is Greenville.
The city ranks as having the 10th lowest median income in the state. However, an extremely low cost of living prevents a good number of folks from living in poverty as the poverty rate only ranks as the 3rd highest in Alabama.
Still not the best news for Greenville.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$34,802 median income · 26.0% poverty · #3 lowest income in Alabama
Located in
Marengo County, Alabama
Demopolis ranks as the sixth poorest place in the Heart of Dixie.
It ranks as having the 14th highest incidence of poverty and the 100th highest unemployment rate.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$40,345 median income · 28.1% poverty · #9 lowest income in Alabama
Located in
Etowah County, Alabama
Gadsden places as the seventh poorest city in Alabama.
The city of over 33,374 ranks as having the 8th highest incidence of poverty in the state. However, it has a very low cost of living which helps to pay the bills each month.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$39,613 median income · 27.9% poverty · #7 lowest income in Alabama
Located in
Jefferson County, Alabama
Bessemer ranks as the eighth poorest city in Alabama.
The big issue for the town is the unemployment rate which ranks as one of the highest in the state.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$39,733 median income · 26.6% poverty · #8 lowest income in Alabama
Located in
Colbert County, Alabama
Sheffield couldn’t stay out of the top ten poorest places in Alabama; it ranks number 9.
While the median income is the 8th lowest, there are a substantial number of people that live below the poverty line. Overall, Sheffield ranks as having the 12th most people living in poverty of all the places we analyzed in Alabama.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$47,479 median income · 32.5% poverty · #23 lowest income in Alabama
Located in
DeKalb County, Alabama
And rounding out the top ten poorest cities in Alabama is Fort Payne.
The city of 14,927 people ranks in the bottom 20% for both median income and poverty rate in the Heart of Dixie.
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: 15.6%
Alabama statewide median: 4.7%
On the map
Where poverty hits hardest in Alabama
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the poorest places in Alabama for 2026
The first thing that comes to most people’s minds when they think about determining the poorest places is to simply the poverty rate. That is, the number of people living below a federally established level of income for a household of a certain size.
However, we don’t think that one statistic wholly encompasses what it means to be one of the “poorest places”. So we used Saturday Night Science to look at this set of criteria from the newly released 2020-2024 American Community Survey:
- Poverty Level
- Median Household Income
After we collected the data for all 105 places with more than 5,000 people in Alabama, we ranked each place from 1 to 105 for each of the criteria, with 1 being the poorest.
We then averaged all the rankings for a place into a “Poor Score” with the place having the lowest overall Poor Score, Selma, crowned the “Poorest Place In Alabama For 2026”.
The full plate
Detailed list of the poorest places to live in Alabama
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Poor Score | Population | Median income | Poverty | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Selma | 3.00 | 17,057 | $33,197 | 30.8% | 14.0% |
| 2 | Monroeville | 4.00 | 5,802 | $32,513 | 28.8% | 11.3% |
| 3 | Prichard | 4.50 | 18,961 | $36,588 | 30.6% | 10.1% |
| 4 | Tuskegee | 5.50 | 8,938 | $38,000 | 29.0% | 10.8% |
| 5 | Greenville | 6.50 | 7,163 | $40,822 | 31.6% | 6.6% |
| 6 | Demopolis | 8.50 | 6,908 | $34,802 | 26.0% | 1.7% |
| 7 | Gadsden | 8.50 | 33,374 | $40,345 | 28.1% | 7.2% |
| 8 | Bessemer | 9.00 | 25,400 | $39,613 | 27.9% | 8.6% |
| 9 | Sheffield | 10.00 | 9,340 | $39,733 | 26.6% | 5.2% |
| 10 | Fort Payne | 12.00 | 14,927 | $47,479 | 32.5% | 5.0% |
| 11 | Opp | 12.00 | 6,709 | $41,347 | 26.3% | 5.2% |
| 12 | Atmore | 13.00 | 8,334 | $38,862 | 25.0% | 18.2% |
| 13 | Fairfield | 13.50 | 9,728 | $48,456 | 32.4% | 6.5% |
| 14 | Chickasaw | 14.00 | 6,332 | $46,559 | 28.0% | 4.6% |
| 15 | Andalusia | 15.50 | 8,766 | $42,611 | 25.4% | 6.7% |
| 16 | Talladega | 15.50 | 14,760 | $44,198 | 25.6% | 12.6% |
| 17 | Ozark | 17.50 | 14,327 | $48,944 | 28.1% | 9.1% |
| 18 | Alexander City | 17.50 | 14,606 | $47,022 | 25.7% | 6.4% |
| 19 | Tarrant | 19.00 | 5,925 | $42,070 | 24.2% | 7.2% |
| 20 | Birmingham | 19.50 | 198,173 | $46,051 | 24.7% | 5.8% |
| 21 | Bay Minette | 20.50 | 8,295 | $44,523 | 24.4% | 7.2% |
| 22 | Troy | 25.50 | 17,716 | $50,717 | 25.0% | 2.7% |
| 23 | Anniston | 25.50 | 21,271 | $46,668 | 20.6% | 6.4% |
| 24 | Tuscaloosa | 25.50 | 111,038 | $51,464 | 25.1% | 7.7% |
| 25 | Lanett | 26.00 | 6,814 | $42,357 | 19.1% | 7.3% |
| 26 | Phenix City | 26.50 | 38,499 | $50,053 | 24.5% | 5.4% |
| 27 | Eufaula | 27.50 | 12,584 | $47,392 | 20.4% | 5.6% |
| 28 | Sylacauga | 29.00 | 12,309 | $50,017 | 21.0% | 6.7% |
| 29 | Midfield | 29.50 | 5,045 | $52,755 | 24.6% | 7.2% |
| 30 | Jacksonville | 30.50 | 14,437 | $51,814 | 23.1% | 7.5% |
| 31 | Boaz | 32.00 | 10,814 | $49,846 | 19.4% | 2.1% |
| 32 | Clanton | 34.50 | 8,958 | $47,520 | 18.1% | 7.1% |
| 33 | Auburn | 37.50 | 80,594 | $63,668 | 25.4% | 3.2% |
| 34 | Montgomery | 37.50 | 197,494 | $56,811 | 21.5% | 6.4% |
| 35 | Dothan | 39.50 | 71,514 | $55,792 | 19.3% | 4.3% |
| 36 | Scottsboro | 39.50 | 15,712 | $53,929 | 18.6% | 3.5% |
| 37 | Mobile | 39.50 | 203,416 | $53,558 | 18.4% | 5.6% |
| 38 | Oneonta | 41.00 | 6,971 | $53,980 | 18.2% | 1.8% |
| 39 | Florence | 41.00 | 41,701 | $52,174 | 17.9% | 6.3% |
| 40 | Russellville | 41.50 | 10,799 | $58,231 | 20.0% | 4.9% |
| 41 | Albertville | 43.00 | 22,813 | $56,099 | 18.2% | 6.0% |
| 42 | Cullman | 44.00 | 19,319 | $61,224 | 19.9% | 2.9% |
| 43 | Roanoke | 45.00 | 5,336 | $47,105 | 12.5% | 3.4% |
| 44 | Hamilton | 45.00 | 6,922 | $54,871 | 16.7% | 3.9% |
| 45 | Tuscumbia | 45.00 | 9,115 | $59,143 | 18.6% | 1.7% |
| 46 | Semmes | 45.50 | 5,626 | $66,417 | 22.5% | 6.8% |
| 47 | Brewton | 45.50 | 5,186 | $50,721 | 14.2% | 4.3% |
| 48 | Valley | 45.50 | 10,277 | $51,661 | 14.9% | 3.5% |
| 49 | Montevallo | 46.50 | 7,556 | $56,626 | 17.7% | 7.2% |
| 50 | Pell City | 49.00 | 13,587 | $68,638 | 20.8% | 7.4% |
| 51 | Lincoln | 51.50 | 7,305 | $57,145 | 15.6% | 3.5% |
| 52 | Center Point | 51.50 | 15,914 | $56,417 | 14.3% | 8.1% |
| 53 | Pleasant Grove | 53.50 | 9,442 | $70,317 | 19.7% | 1.7% |
| 54 | Hueytown | 54.00 | 16,414 | $62,784 | 16.2% | 8.6% |
| 55 | Guntersville | 55.50 | 8,916 | $67,929 | 18.1% | 3.1% |
| 56 | Opelika | 56.50 | 32,820 | $65,004 | 16.0% | 5.6% |
| 57 | Jasper | 57.50 | 14,442 | $66,238 | 15.9% | 3.5% |
| 58 | Decatur | 59.50 | 57,361 | $61,563 | 13.1% | 4.5% |
| 59 | Arab | 60.00 | 8,679 | $64,333 | 13.3% | 3.2% |
| 60 | Smiths Station | 60.00 | 5,496 | $64,669 | 14.1% | 2.0% |
| 61 | Rainbow City | 62.00 | 10,284 | $56,398 | 10.0% | 10.3% |
| 62 | Enterprise | 62.00 | 29,505 | $73,125 | 16.5% | 5.4% |
| 63 | Attalla | 62.50 | 5,775 | $59,215 | 11.3% | 5.5% |
| 64 | Robertsdale | 62.50 | 7,194 | $59,152 | 11.1% | 0.3% |
| 65 | Irondale | 64.50 | 13,464 | $72,343 | 15.2% | 8.5% |
| 66 | Wetumpka | 65.50 | 7,437 | $57,763 | 9.9% | 8.9% |
| 67 | Oxford | 65.50 | 22,063 | $74,268 | 15.8% | 5.5% |
| 68 | Leeds | 67.00 | 12,028 | $69,737 | 12.8% | 2.6% |
| 69 | Saraland | 67.00 | 16,404 | $61,509 | 10.1% | 3.6% |
| 70 | Clay | 67.50 | 10,273 | $81,920 | 17.3% | 4.6% |
| 71 | Foley | 68.50 | 24,026 | $66,336 | 11.0% | 3.5% |
| 72 | Tallassee | 70.00 | 5,134 | $66,752 | 11.0% | 8.1% |
| 73 | Athens | 70.00 | 29,002 | $69,922 | 12.2% | 3.1% |
| 74 | Hartselle | 71.00 | 15,847 | $76,290 | 13.3% | 3.1% |
| 75 | Fultondale | 71.00 | 9,384 | $73,575 | 12.5% | 3.3% |
| 76 | Muscle Shoals | 71.50 | 16,951 | $75,894 | 12.8% | 2.3% |
| 77 | Glencoe | 72.00 | 5,353 | $68,517 | 10.6% | 3.2% |
| 78 | Huntsville | 72.00 | 222,791 | $74,714 | 12.6% | 4.1% |
| 79 | Northport | 77.00 | 31,218 | $80,913 | 12.3% | 5.7% |
| 80 | Gulf Shores | 77.00 | 16,401 | $78,188 | 11.5% | 2.4% |
| 81 | Millbrook | 78.00 | 17,189 | $70,313 | 7.8% | 6.6% |
| 82 | Pinson | 79.50 | 7,832 | $76,410 | 10.6% | 6.1% |
| 83 | Prattville | 81.00 | 39,482 | $81,337 | 10.7% | 1.8% |
| 84 | Rainsville | 83.50 | 5,702 | $74,046 | 7.0% | 1.0% |
| 85 | Headland | 87.00 | 5,217 | $79,063 | 7.0% | 1.5% |
| 86 | Moody | 88.00 | 13,488 | $86,627 | 7.7% | 5.7% |
| 87 | Homewood | 89.00 | 27,829 | $94,485 | 8.9% | 2.3% |
| 88 | Southside | 89.00 | 9,483 | $76,487 | 4.4% | 2.9% |
| 89 | Calera | 89.00 | 17,714 | $87,194 | 7.3% | 2.7% |
| 90 | Fairhope | 89.00 | 24,190 | $94,274 | 8.2% | 3.5% |
| 91 | Daphne | 90.00 | 29,453 | $87,250 | 7.2% | 2.3% |
| 92 | Alabaster | 91.00 | 33,917 | $91,357 | 7.1% | 2.5% |
| 93 | Gardendale | 92.50 | 16,534 | $82,192 | 4.3% | 3.4% |
| 94 | Vestavia Hills | 92.50 | 38,616 | $134,369 | 10.0% | 1.9% |
| 95 | Springville | 94.00 | 5,081 | $84,231 | 4.1% | 3.2% |
| 96 | Spanish Fort | 95.00 | 10,662 | $99,346 | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| 97 | Pelham | 95.50 | 24,827 | $101,094 | 6.7% | 2.0% |
| 98 | Satsuma | 96.00 | 6,822 | $101,042 | 5.2% | 5.0% |
| 99 | Hoover | 97.50 | 92,642 | $109,253 | 5.1% | 3.5% |
| 100 | Orange Beach | 99.50 | 8,407 | $97,736 | 2.6% | 3.8% |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024. 105 cities with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
The poorest cities in Alabama for 2026
Like we said earlier, when we set out to identify the poorest places in Alabama, we weren’t sure what we’d encounter, but it ended up being some of the best places to live in Alabama.
When you look at the data, the cities and places mentioned above meet the criteria for being at the very bottom of the income ladder for everyone that lives there.
