50
States ranked
1,312
Cities scored
49
Data sources
11
Scoring categories
America’s Dashboard

America's Dashboard ranks and scores all 50 US states and1,312 cities using real government data. Compare economy, safety, health, education, affordability, and more — free, transparent, and updated with the latest federal statistics.

Updated as each source publishes its latest release

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Data sources

Rankings are computed from publicly available federal and state government datasets, supplemented by a handful of published indexes (such as the Tax Foundation, Child Care Aware of America and Zillow Research). Figures are used as each source publishes them, including the FBI's own state crime estimates; nothing is synthetic or modeled by us, and every source is cited below.

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS annual averages·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-year·
  • FBI Crime Data Explorer, estimated crimes by state·
  • CDC NCHS U.S. State Life Tables·
  • CDC BRFSS·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS (table S2701)·
  • NAEP, The Nation's Report Card·
  • EDFacts adjusted cohort graduation rate (NCES)·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates·
  • Cook Political Report, PVI·
  • Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures·
  • ALEC Rich States Poor States·
  • WalletHub Tax Burden Study·
  • Zillow Research, Zillow Home Value Index·
  • BEA Regional Price Parities·
  • EPA AirData, Median AQI by County·
  • EIA State Electricity Profiles·
  • FEMA National Risk Index·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS Broadband Subscriptions·
  • National Park Service API·
  • USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-year Commuting·
  • FHWA Highway Statistics·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns·
  • EIA residential electricity prices·
  • EIA State Energy Data System, motor gasoline prices·
  • EIA Natural Gas Prices, residential·
  • Child Care Aware of America, Price & Supply·
  • Tax Foundation, State Income Tax Rates and Brackets·
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, goods·
  • NCES Common Core of Data (CCD)·
  • EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates·
  • NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33)·
  • BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9)·
  • NASBO Fiscal Survey of States·
  • Census Bureau State Government Finances·
  • Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50·
  • Pew Charitable Trusts, State Pension Funding·
  • S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia·
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES·
  • IRS Statistics of Income, State-to-State Migration·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS State-to-State Migration Flows·
  • Zillow Research, Home Values, Rents & Market Metrics·
  • FBI Crime Data Explorer, city police agency reports·
  • CDC PLACES, city health estimates·
  • NOAA U.S. Climate Normals·
  • EPA National Walkability Index
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Home/States/Alabama

2026 edition·South·Pop. 5,193,088·Capital Montgomery·22nd state, admitted 1819·Cook PVI R+15

Is Alabama a Good Place to Live? Alabama Rankings, Cost of Living, Crime & Taxes

Alabama ranks #37 of 50 with a composite score of 48.5 and a C grade, strongest in growth (#7) and weakest in transportation (#49). The median household earns $66,659 (18% below the national median), homes typically cost $241,613 (34% below the national average), and violent crime is 348 per 100,000 (6% above the national average).

Editor's verdict
Alabama is cheap in the way that shows up in a checking account: a family of four earning $75,000 ends the year at a $8,845 surplus, #3, and the effective property tax of 0.39% is the second-lowest anywhere. Against that, it ranks #45 on health and #28 on safety, with a life expectancy of 73.8 years, 3.1 years below the national average.
Compare Alabama with its neighbors →Best cities in Alabama →How the score works →
Composite score
48.5C
#37 of 50 · #8 in the South
Top 10 in
Growth #7, Affordability #7
Middle of the pack
Economy #21, Safety #28, Fiscal Health #31, Education #39
Bottom 10 in
Environment #43, Health #45, Livability #45, Outdoor Access #47, Transportation #49
NumbersNumbersScorecardScoresCostCostTaxesTaxesSafetySafetyJobsJobsSchools & healthSchoolsMovingMovingCitiesCitiesBest forBest forNeighborsNeighborsFAQFAQ
Top ↑

Alabama by the numbers

Six measures every state is judged on, each with Alabama's rank of 50 and the national figure beside it.

Median household income
$66,659
#44 of 50, 1 = highest · US $80,903
Typical home value
$241,613
#8 of 50, 1 = cheapest · US $368,697
Cost of living index
88.8
#7 of 50, 1 = cheapest · US 100
Violent crime per 100K
348
#33 of 50, 1 = safest · US 328
Unemployment rate
2.9%
#5 of 50, 1 = lowest · US 3.95%
Total tax burden
7.99%
#14 of 50, 1 = lowest · US 8.74%

Sources, latest releases: Census Bureau ACS (income), Zillow Research (home value), BEA Regional Price Parities (cost index), FBI state crime estimates (crime), BLS LAUS (unemployment), WalletHub tax burden study (taxes). Rank 1 is the best value in each measure: highest income, lowest cost, lowest crime.

→Read the Alabama overview

Alabama scores above the national average in 3 of 11 categories and ranks #8 of 14 states in the South, behind 7 regional neighbors. Its biggest edge over the country is typical home value ($241,613, 34% below the national average); its biggest shortfall is median household income ($66,659, 18% below the national median). That mix of top-10 finishes (2) and bottom-10 finishes (5) is why the composite alone undersells the tradeoffs a mover here faces.

What stands out
  • The effective property tax rate is 0.39%, #2 lowest, so a paid-off house here is about as cheap to keep as anywhere.
  • Huntsville and Madison are a separate economy: Madison has the highest income and fastest growth of any tracked city, built on Redstone Arsenal.
  • The graduation rate is 88.2%, #14 nationally, while the education category ranks #39; the diploma count and the school quality don't agree.

Where does Alabama rank in each category?

All 11 categories that make up the composite, heaviest weight first. Alabama is top 10 in 2 and bottom 10 in 5.

CategoryScoreRankGradeWeightUS avgThe numbers behind it
Economy49.8#21 of 50B15%47.1Its unemployment rate is 2.9% and median household income is $66,659.
Safety66.3#28 of 50C+12%68.9The FBI estimates 348.3 violent crimes and 1,461.8 property crimes per 100,000 residents.
Health29.5#45 of 50D12%54.4Life expectancy is 73.8 years, 38.9% of adults have obesity, and 8.2% of residents are uninsured.
Education49.4#39 of 50C12%57.5Eighth graders average 262 in NAEP math and 250 in reading, and the high school graduation rate is 88.2%.
Affordability85.5#7 of 50A10%65.2Typical home value $241,613 (3.6x median income); cost of living index 88.8 (100 = US); center-based infant care $8,859 a year.
Fiscal Health56.4#31 of 50C+8%58.1It carries $2,456 of debt per resident, has 72% of pensions funded, and holds a AA credit rating.
Growth53.6#7 of 50A7%38.8Population grew 0.58% last year; Census net domestic migration is +4.5 per 1,000 residents (the Moving section below uses IRS household counts, a different series).
Transportation32.9#49 of 50F7%49.8The average commute is 26 minutes, 0.4% of workers use public transit, and 8.3% work from home.
Livability22.8#45 of 50D7%34.3It has 1.565 restaurants and 0.013 arts venues per 1,000 residents, plus 0.06 bars and 0.049 social associations per 1,000.
Outdoor Access6.6#47 of 50D6%29.43.7% of its land is public, with 1.74 recreation facilities per 10,000 residents.
Environment28.3#43 of 50D4%42.5Its median air quality index is 42, 9% of its electricity is renewable, and its FEMA disaster risk score is 31.1.

Weight, US average and the evidence sentence for each category are shown on wider screens.

Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. US avg is the mean score of the 50 states. Click a category for its 50-state ranking.

Category shape

Alabama's 11 category scores. A balanced state fills the wheel evenly; Alabama bulges toward growth and dips at transportation.

How expensive is Alabama?

Alabama's cost of living index is 88.8 against a national baseline of 100, 11% below the national average and #7 of 50 (1 = cheapest). The typical home is worth $241,613 (34% below the national average); buying it takes an income of about $63,954, $2,705 less than the median household earns. Inside the state the spread is wide: among tracked cities, Enterprise is cheapest (index 83.2) and Daphne priciest (94.7).

Housing market snapshot · August

Cool market
Typical home value
$241,613
+1.9% in 1 yr · +17.7% in 5 yr · national $369K
Mortgage payment
$1,243/mo
P&I, 20% down, current rates
Income needed
$64K
median earns $67K (-4%)
Rent, Birmingham
$1,433/mo
buying cheaper by $82 vs. a $1,351 metro payment
Price cuts · days
25% · 64
national 26% · 53 days

Ranked #43 of 50 most expensive by typical value and #4 on price relative to income (1 = most affordable). The median household earns enough to buy the typical home.

Full Alabama housing market: 26-year chart, rent vs. buy, cities →

What a household keeps at $75,000

HouseholdAlabamaMedian stateRank
Family of fourTwo adults, two kids, one in daycare+$8,845−$11,758#3 of 50
Single adultOne-bedroom rent, no childcare+$36,789+$31,418#7 of 50
Retiree coupleOwn the home, no payroll tax+$41,956+$35,970#6 of 50

Take-home pay minus housing, childcare, utilities, groceries and transport for a $75,000 household, from the affordability engine. Positive = money left over; negative = costs exceed take-home. Rank 1 = most left over.

Electricity price
16.10¢/kWh
#31 of 50 · US 17.84¢/kWh
Natural gas price
$17.56/Mcf
#36 of 50 · US $15.83/Mcf
Gasoline price
$2.89/gal
#2 of 50 · US $3.32/gal
Price level for goods
96.4
#26 of 50 · US 100
Center-based infant care, per year
$8,859
#3 of 50 · US $15,633
Editor's note

Childcare and gasoline rank among the cheapest ten states here, and the index of 88.8 is 11% below the national average. Enterprise in the Shoals and Gadsden are the cheap end, the Birmingham suburbs and Madison the expensive end, with no Atlanta-style outlier. Newcomers underestimate the sales tax on everything, food included, and the wind insurance in Mobile and Baldwin counties, which can cost more than the property tax bill. A family of four at $75,000 comes out at a $8,845 surplus, $20,603 above the national median; a single adult at a $36,789 surplus, #7.

  • Run your own budget for Alabama →
  • Alabama housing market →
  • Housing rankings →

What are taxes like in Alabama?

Alabama's tax mix is low property tax, high sales tax, with income tax in the middle of the pack. The total state and local tax burden comes to 7.99% of income, 0.8 points below the national average (#14 of 50, 1 = lightest). Property tax is 0.39% of home value (#2), and combined sales tax averages 9.46% (#46).

Total tax burden
7.99%
#14 of 50 · US 8.74%
Top income tax rate
4.15%
#15 of 50 · US avg 5.46%
Effective property tax
0.39%
#2 of 50 · US 1.02%
Combined sales tax
9.46%
#46 of 50 · US 6.66%

Tax Foundation (rates) and WalletHub tax burden study (burden as a share of income), latest releases. Rank 1 = lowest. Income tax is the top marginal rate including typical local taxes where they apply.

Can the state pay its bills?

Credit rating
AA
S&P / Moody's
Rainy-day fund
9.8%
of spending · #28 of 50
Pensions funded
72%
of obligations · #29 of 50
Debt per resident
$2,456
state debt · #19 of 50

Fiscal health scores 56.4 out of 100, #31 of 50. Pew Fiscal 50, Census state finances and the rating agencies, latest releases.

Editor's note

Alabama's mix is low property tax, high sales tax, with income tax in the middle of the pack: a property tax of 0.39%, #2 lowest, paid for by a sales tax of 9.46%, #46, that applies to groceries. For a homeowner that is the region's best deal; for a renter or a large family, the sales tax takes it back. Retirees do well: Social Security and defined-benefit pensions are exempt, and homeowners over sixty-five get extra homestead relief. A high earner hits the 4.15% top rate at a low income, so the tax is close to flat.

  • Fiscal health rankings →
  • Best states for retirees →

Is Alabama safe?

Alabama reports 348 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 6% above the national average and #33 of 50 (1 = safest). Property crime runs 1,462 per 100,000, 5% below the national average (#27 of 50). The safety score is 66.3 out of 100, #28 of 50; among tracked cities, Daphne has the lowest violent crime rate.

Alabama vs. the United States, per 100,000 residents

Violent crime#33 of 50
AL
348
US
328
Property crime#27 of 50
AL
1,462
US
1,535

FBI state crime estimates, latest release. US is the mean of the 50 states; blue = below it, terracotta = above it. Florida and North Dakota use the FBI's prior-year estimate because their latest year is based on limited data.

Safest tracked cities in Alabama

CityPopulationViolent / 100KProperty / 100K
Hoover92,642661,034
Auburn80,59499871
Madison60,106152959
Huntsville222,7913992,297
Tuscaloosa111,0384802,377

Lowest violent crime among the 20 Alabama cities we track with 50,000 or more residents. City rates come from each city's police agency and are not strictly comparable across agencies.

Editor's note

Violent crime is 348 per hundred thousand, 6% above the national average, but the number is pulled by a handful of cities. Birmingham's rate is many times the statewide figure; Mobile, Dothan and Phenix City sit above it; Hoover, Vestavia Hills and Madison post a fraction of the national average, and Daphne on the Eastern Shore is the safest tracked city. Shelby and Madison counties read like different states from Jefferson.

  • Safety rankings →
  • Best states for families →

What is the job market like in Alabama?

Alabama's unemployment rate is 2.9%, 1.1 points below the national average and #5 of 50 (1 = lowest), and the median household earns $66,659, 18% below the national median. Real GDP grew +1.8% in the latest year (#29 of 50) and GDP per capita is $51,087, 21% below the national average. The population is growing 0.58% a year, 0.1 points above the national average. The economy score is 49.8 out of 100, #21 of 50.

Median household income
$66,659
#44 of 50 · US $80,903
Unemployment rate
2.9%
#5 of 50 · US 3.95%
GDP per capita
$51,087
#44 of 50 · US $64,333
Real GDP growth
+1.8%
#29 of 50 · US +1.91%
Population growth
+0.58%
#20 of 50 · US +0.51%

Census Bureau ACS (income), BLS LAUS (unemployment), BEA (GDP), Census population estimates (growth), latest releases.

Highest-paying tracked occupations in Alabama, adjusted for cost of living

OccupationCost-adjustedMedian wageMetro
Family Medicine Physicians$239,510$215,559Birmingham-Hoover
Lawyers$143,248$128,923Birmingham-Hoover
Software Developers$134,596$121,136Birmingham-Hoover
Computer Systems Analysts$104,288$93,859Birmingham-Hoover
Civil Engineers$96,769$87,092Birmingham-Hoover

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, latest release, for the 20 occupations we track. Cost-adjusted wage divides the metro median by its cost of living index.

Editor's note

Aerospace in Huntsville, auto plants across the middle of the state and health care in Birmingham are the engines. Redstone Arsenal, NASA's Marshall center and their contractors make Huntsville the highest-wage market; Mercedes near Tuscaloosa, Honda in Lincoln and Hyundai in Montgomery anchor manufacturing; UAB is Birmingham's largest employer. Unemployment is 2.9%, #5 lowest, but median income is $66,659, 18% below the national median: plenty of jobs, few that pay national wages outside Huntsville. family medicine physicians in Birmingham-Hoover earn a median $215,559.

  • Economy rankings →
  • Wages by occupation and metro →

How are Alabama's schools and healthcare?

Alabama's education score is 49.4 out of 100, #39 of 50. Eighth graders average 262 in NAEP math (#48 of 50) and 250 in reading (#45 of 50), and the high school graduation rate is 88.2%, 2.6 points above the national average (#14 of 50).

Education score
49.4
#39 of 50 · US 57.5
Graduation rate
88.2%
#14 of 50 · US 85.6%
NAEP math, grade 8
262
#48 of 50 · US 273 · grade 4: 236
NAEP reading, grade 8
250
#45 of 50 · US 257 · grade 4: 213

Best public school cities we track, by graduation rate

CityGrad rateStudents / teacherPer pupil
Florence98%17.5$14,378
Alabaster97%17.3$13,376
Auburn96%17.2$12,136

NCES Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey, latest release. Cities with at least three schools.

Editor's note

The graduation rate is 88.2% yet education ranks #39: the diploma is easier to earn than scores are to raise. Alabama lets cities break away from county districts, so Madison City, Hoover, Vestavia Hills and Mountain Brook run their own schools with local property tax on top; Florence has the top graduation rate of any tracked city. Rural county systems, Birmingham City and Montgomery sit at the other end.

  • Education rankings →

Alabama is #45 of 50 for health, with a life expectancy of 73.8 years, 3.1 years below the national average. 38.9% of adults have obesity (#46 of 50) and 8.2% of residents have no health insurance (#32 of 50). The health score is 29.5 out of 100, weighted 12% of the composite.

Health score
29.5
#45 of 50 · US 54.4
Life expectancy
73.8 years
#45 of 50 · US 76.9 years
Adults with obesity
38.9%
#46 of 50 · US 34%
Uninsured
8.2%
#32 of 50 · US 7.6%

CDC National Center for Health Statistics (state life tables), CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (obesity), and Census Bureau American Community Survey (health insurance), latest releases.

Editor's note

Alabama ranks #45 for health: life expectancy is 73.8 years, 3.1 years below the national average, and adult obesity is 38.9%. Obesity, diabetes and heart disease run highest in the Black Belt and rural counties where hospitals have closed and the nearest emergency room can be an hour away. Birmingham, Huntsville and Mobile have strong hospital systems. Alabama has not expanded Medicaid, and the practical question for a mover is the drive to a maternity ward.

  • Health rankings →

Who is moving to Alabama, and who is leaving?

Alabama gained a net 6,202 households from other states in the latest IRS release: 55,369 moved in and 49,167 moved out, +1.2 per 1,000 residents (#19 of 50). Arriving households report an average income of $66,467 against $63,867 for those leaving. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey, which counts people rather than households, shows a net +22.4K people (119.8K in, 97.3K out, ±13.8K), consistent with the IRS direction.

Households moving in
55,369
top origin Georgia
Households moving out
49,167
top destination Georgia
Net per 1,000 residents
+1.2
#19 of 50 · +6,202 households
Avg income, arrivals
$66,467
leavers $63,867 · arrivals earn more

Where they come from

  1. 1Georgia9,224 · $61,054
  2. 2Florida8,410 · $61,123
  3. 3Tennessee4,905 · $66,085
  4. 4Texas3,748 · $71,813
  5. 5Mississippi3,287 · $55,441

Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households arrived from these states in the latest IRS release.

Where they go

  1. 1Georgia8,527 · $54,746
  2. 2Florida7,060 · $74,344
  3. 3Tennessee4,554 · $64,161
  4. 4Texas4,359 · $68,054
  5. 5Mississippi2,588 · $58,452

Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households left for these states in the latest IRS release.

Editor's note

Alabama gains households: 55,369 in, 49,167 out, a net of +6,202. Georgia is the top origin and destination, followed by Florida and Tennessee, so most moves are regional swaps. Arriving households average $66,467 and departing ones $63,867, consistent with people trading a pricier Southern metro for a cheaper one. Growth concentrates in Madison and Baldwin counties and the Auburn-Opelika corridor; Birmingham and Mobile proper are flat or shrinking.

  • All Alabama migration flows →
  • State-by-state migration →

Where should you live in Alabama?

By composite score, the best of the 20 Alabama cities we track are Madison (72.1), Vestavia Hills (70.9), and Hoover (67.9). Enterprise is the cheapest (cost index 83.2), Madison the richest ($134,655), and Madison the fastest growing (+6.5% a year). City ranks are among the 20 Alabama cities we cover, not every city in the state.

Standout cities in Alabama

Best forCityMeasure
SafestDaphne57 violent crimes per 100K
CheapestEnterprisecost of living index 83.2
Most walkableMontgomerywalkability 12.6 of 20
Cleanest airAlabastermedian AQI 36 (county)
Best schoolsFlorence98% graduation rate
RichestMadison$134,655

Among the 20 Alabama cities we track. Safest uses a full year of FBI reports from the city's own police agency; air quality is measured by county, so cities in the same county share a reading.

Editor's note

Regions of Alabama

Huntsville and North Alabama

Rocket City and the Tennessee Valley: the highest incomes and fastest growth, engineers and federal contractors, milder summers, and school systems that draw families from three states.

HuntsvilleMadisonDecaturFlorenceGadsden
Birmingham metro and West Alabama

The medical and banking center ringed by over-the-mountain suburbs; Birmingham proper is cheap and struggling, Hoover and Vestavia safe and pricey, Tuscaloosa runs on the university and Mercedes.

BirminghamHooverVestavia HillsAlabasterTuscaloosaNorthport
Montgomery and the River Region

State government, Maxwell Air Force Base and the Hyundai plant; flat, hot, inexpensive housing, with Prattville as the suburb families choose and the Black Belt beginning just south of town.

MontgomeryPrattville
East Alabama and the Wiregrass

Auburn's college town and Opelika's factories in the north, Army aviation and peanut country around Dothan in the south; cheap, rural between towns, and tied to Georgia.

AuburnOpelikaPhenix CityDothanEnterprise
Gulf Coast

Mobile's port and shipyards facing Baldwin County's fast-growing Eastern Shore and beach towns across the bay; humid, hurricane-exposed, with wind insurance that changes the affordability math.

MobileDaphne

All 20 tracked cities, best to worst

#CityGradeScorePopulationIncomeViolent / 100KCost index
1Madison
A+
72.160,106$134,65515293.1
2Vestavia Hills
A+
70.938,616$134,3696991.6
3Hoover
A+
67.992,642$109,2536691.6
4Alabaster
A
64.333,917$91,3579591.6
5Daphne
B+
62.729,453$87,2505794.7
6Auburn
B+
59.880,594$63,6689987.9
7Prattville
B
57.339,482$81,33725589.7
8Northport
B
57.031,218$80,91338787.7
9Huntsville
B
56.8222,791$74,71439993.1
10Opelika
C+
54.832,820$65,00445887.9
11Decatur
C
52.257,361$61,56363487.2
12Enterprise
C
51.729,505$73,12575383.2
13Florence
C
51.541,701$52,17454384.8
14Tuscaloosa
D
48.3111,038$51,46448087.7
15Mobile
D
47.2203,416$53,55858888.1
16Dothan
D
47.271,514$55,79280183.8
17Montgomery
D
46.5197,494$56,81164589.7
18Phenix City
D
45.338,499$50,05370889.3
19Gadsden
D
44.433,374$40,34539885.7
20Birmingham
F
41.1198,173$46,0511,23991.6

Swipe the table sideways for more columns. Rank is among the 20 Alabama cities we track: every city of 50,000 or more, plus the state's other largest places. City scores use city-level Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, EPA and NCES data, and a category with no city data is left out of the score rather than filled with the state's figure.

Best cities in Alabama for…

#CityScoreEducationSafetyAffordability
1Vestavia Hills71.469.598.361.8
2Hoover68.867.095.167.6
3Madison67.458.890.267.3
4Auburn66.259.894.276.1
5Alabaster66.062.893.875.0
All Alabama cities for families →Best states for families →
  • All 1,312 cities →

Who is Alabama best for?

The same 11 category scores, re-weighted for six kinds of household. Rank is among the 50 states; click through for the best Alabama cities for each.

Families
#39of 50
Best Alabama cities →
Retirees
#44of 50
Best Alabama cities →
Remote Workers
#26of 50
Best Alabama cities →
Young Professionals
#22of 50
Best Alabama cities →
Small Business
#24of 50
Best Alabama cities →
Outdoor Enthusiasts
#48of 50
Best Alabama cities →
Alabama fits
  • Homeowners on a fixed income: with property tax of 0.39% and exempt Social Security and pensions, a retiree couple at $75,000 ends the year at a $41,956 surplus, #6.
  • Engineers and defense contractors: Madison, next door to Huntsville, has the highest median income of any tracked city and the fastest growth, inside a state with a cost index of 88.8.
  • Families who want a house on one income: a family of four at $75,000 comes out at a $8,845 surplus, $20,603 above the national median, and infant childcare runs $8,859.
Alabama does not fit
  • Anyone who counts on public services or transit: transportation ranks #49, 0.4% of commuters use transit, and broadband reaches 91.6% of households.
  • Households with chronic health needs far from a metro: health ranks #45 and life expectancy is 73.8 years.
  • Outdoor-access seekers: 3.7% of the state is public land and the outdoor persona ranks #48, despite the Gulf beaches and the Bankhead forest.

Weights differ by household: families lean on education, safety and housing; retirees on fiscal health, healthcare and cost. See the weights →

How does Alabama compare with its neighbors?

Alabama ranks #37. Among its bordering states, Florida ranks highest (#21) and Mississippi lowest (#46). Mississippi is the most similar on the composite score and Florida the most different. Bordering states are listed best to worst; the national line is the mean of the 50 states.

StateOverallScoreMedian incomeTypical homeCost indexViolent crimeTax burdenCompare
Alabama#3748.5$66,659$241,61388.83487.99%
Florida#2159.9$77,735$375,470103.42756.49%Compare →
Tennessee#2457.1$71,997$334,10891.94926.38%Compare →
Georgia#2655.4$79,991$330,81796.32978.47%Compare →
Mississippi#4641.9$59,127$197,606872279.06%Compare →
United States—57.9$80,903$368,6971003288.74%

Overall rank, median income, cost index and tax burden columns are shown on wider screens.

People also compare
Alabama vs. Texas →
Other South states
  • Virginia#15
  • North Carolina#23
  • Texas#32
  • South Carolina#36
  • Kentucky#41
  • Oklahoma#43
  • West Virginia#44
  • Arkansas#48
  • Louisiana#50
Editor's note

Columbus and Phenix City share a metro with the Chattahoochee as Georgia's tax line, and Alabama is the cheaper side. Gulf Shores beats Pensacola on price and loses on income tax, 4.15% here against none there. Tennessee pulls Huntsville workers north with no income tax; Mississippi is the only cheaper neighbor.

  • Compare Alabama with any state →

How the score works

Eleven categories, each scored 0–100 and weighted into one composite. Grades follow rank.

The weights

Economy 15% · Safety 12% · Health 12% · Education 12% · Affordability 10% · Fiscal Health 8% · Growth 7% · Transportation 7% · Livability 7% · Outdoor Access 6% · Environment 4%. The composite is the weighted sum, stretched linearly so states spread across most of the 0–100 range.

From raw numbers to scores

Every raw measure is placed on a 0–100 scale between a fixed floor and ceiling, inverted where lower is better (crime, cost, taxes), then combined within its category. The same scale applies to every state.

Letter grades

Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. A C+ state is not failing; it is in the middle third.

Cities, budgets and neighbors

The 20 Alabama city scores, the household budgets and the neighbor table on this page are computed from the same sources as the state score. City ranks are among the cities we track, not all cities in the state.

Editor's notes

Passages marked as editor's notes are written for this state and add context the numbers cannot: regions, tradeoffs, who the state fits. Every figure inside them is pulled from the data at build time, so the words cannot drift from the numbers.

Always the latest release

Each source is the most recent release its agency has published. The page is rebuilt when a source updates, so the score can move without any change in the state itself.

What the score cannot tell you

Weather and climate, culture and pace, politics beyond the Cook index shown for context, the quality of a specific school, hospital or neighborhood, job prospects in your field, and anything without a public, comparable, 50-state source. Statewide averages also hide the metro-versus-rural split, which is why the editor's notes name places.

Category briefs

Economy: Unemployment rate and median household income. Safety: Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. Health: Health outcomes, behaviors, and access to care. Education: K-12 school quality, test scores, and graduation rates. Full methodology →

Key takeaways

What the Alabama numbers say when read together.

  1. 01

    Growth is Alabama's strongest suit

    Alabama is a #37 state overall but #7 of 50 for growth, 30 places better than its composite rank, with a score of 53.6 against a national average of 38.8. Affordability (#7) is next. Growth carries 7% of the composite.

  2. 02

    Transportation is where Alabama falls furthest behind

    Alabama ranks #49 of 50 for transportation, 12 places below its overall #37, with a score of 32.9 against a national average of 49.8. At 7% of the composite, it is the category holding the overall score down most.

  3. 03

    Typical home value is 34% below the national average

    Alabama's typical home value is $241,613, 34% below the national average of $368,697, #8 of 50 (1 = cheapest). The largest gap in the other direction is median household income: $66,659, 18% below the national median. Source: Zillow Research ZHVI, latest release.

  4. 04

    More households arrive than leave

    Alabama ranks #19 of 50 on net household flow per 1,000 residents (+1.2). The households arriving report $2,600 more in average income than those leaving ($66,467 against $63,867), so the state is trading up on income even as the headcount grows. Georgia is both the largest source and the largest destination.

  5. 05

    A middle income stretches further here than in most states

    A family of four earning $75,000 ends the year at a $8,845 surplus after housing, childcare, utilities, groceries, transport and taxes, against a $11,758 shortfall in the median state (#3 of 50). A single adult on the same income comes out at a $36,789 surplus; a retiree couple at a $41,956 surplus. Infant childcare runs $8,859 a year, 43% below the national average.

  6. 06

    Alabama sits 4th among its 5-state neighborhood

    3 of Alabama's 4 bordering states rank above its #37; the closest match on the composite is Mississippi. Median income among them runs from $59,127 in Mississippi to $79,991 in Georgia; Alabama is at $66,659.

Editor's note

The tradeoff

+Property tax of 0.39% and a cost index of 88.8 make owning a home cheaper here than almost anywhere.

−A 9.46% combined sales tax that includes groceries means renters and big families give some of it back.

+Unemployment of 2.9%, #5 lowest, and auto and aerospace plants keep adding shifts.

−Median income is $66,659, 18% below the national median, and the high-wage work is concentrated in Huntsville.

+The graduation rate of 88.2% is #14 in the country, ahead of most states.

−Education still ranks #39 overall, and quality depends on landing in a suburban city school system.

Frequently asked questions about living in Alabama

Is Alabama a good place to live?

Alabama ranks #37 of 50 with a C grade, #8 of 14 in the South. It is top 10 in growth and affordability and bottom 10 in environment, health, livability, outdoor access, and transportation. On the six headline measures it beats the national figure on 4 of 6 (home prices, cost of living, unemployment, and tax burden) and trails on income and violent crime. Whether that adds up to a good place to live depends on what you weigh; the household rankings below re-weight the same numbers for families, retirees and remote workers.

Where does Alabama rank among US states?

Alabama ranks #37 of 50 overall with a composite score of 48.5 (grade C), and #8 of 14 states in the South. Its best category rank is #7 (growth) and its worst #49 (transportation). The composite weights eleven categories, with economy, safety, health and education counting most; grades follow rank, so C means rank 35–42.

Is it expensive to live in Alabama?

At #7 of 50 for cost of living (1 = cheapest), Alabama is 11% below the national average: its index is 88.8 against a national baseline of 100. The typical home value is $241,613 (34% below the national average), and buying it takes an income of about $63,954 against a median household income of $66,659. At $75,000, a family of four comes out at a $8,845 surplus after all costs, #3 of 50 (1 = most left over).

Does Alabama have a state income tax?

Yes. Alabama's top state income tax rate is 4.15% (#15 of 50, 1 = lowest), and the total state and local tax burden is 7.99% of income, 0.8 points below the national average. Property tax is 0.39% of home value and combined sales tax 9.46%.

What is the crime rate in Alabama?

Alabama reports 348 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 6% above the national average and #33 of 50 (1 = safest), and 1,462 property crimes per 100,000, 5% below the national average (#27). Its safety score is 66.3 out of 100, #28 of 50. Figures are FBI estimates from the latest release.

Does Alabama have good schools?

Alabama is #39 of 50 for education (score 49.4 out of 100). Its public school students average 262 in eighth-grade math on NAEP (#48) and 250 in eighth-grade reading (#45), and the high school graduation rate is 88.2%, 2.6 points above the national average (#14). Among tracked cities with at least three schools, Florence has the highest graduation rate at 98%.

Why are people moving to Alabama?

Alabama gained a net 6,202 households in the latest IRS release: 55,369 moved in and 49,167 moved out, +1.2 per 1,000 residents (#19 of 50). The largest source of arrivals is Georgia (9,224 households) and the most common destination is Georgia (8,527). Arriving households report an average income of $66,467 against $63,867 for those leaving, so movers in earn more than movers out. The IRS files count tax returns and say nothing about motives.

Is Alabama a red or blue state?

Alabama is a solidly red state: its Cook Partisan Voting Index is R+15, meaning it votes about 15 points more Republican than the country as a whole. The political lean is shown for context and is not part of the composite score.

What are the downsides of living in Alabama?

Health ranks #45, life expectancy is 73.8 years, and rural hospitals keep closing. Education ranks #39 despite a graduation rate of 88.2%. Transportation ranks #49: 0.4% of commuters use transit, and the interstates are the whole system. Add a 9.46% sales tax on groceries, coastal insurance in Mobile and Baldwin, and spring tornado season, and the low prices come with reasons.

Is Alabama a good place to retire?

On money, yes; on health access, it depends where. The persona rank is #44. Social Security and defined-benefit pensions are exempt, property tax is 0.39% with homestead relief, and a retiree couple at $75,000 ends the year at a $41,956 surplus, $5,986 above the national median. A retiree in Daphne, Hoover or Madison gets the bargain with a hospital nearby; one in a rural county gets a long drive.

Is Alabama safe?

Statewide, no better than average: violent crime is 348 per hundred thousand, 6% above the national average. Birmingham's rate is among the highest of any tracked city; Mobile, Dothan and Phenix City run high; Daphne, Hoover, Vestavia Hills and Madison run well below the national average. Crime tracks the municipal boundary more than the region, so compare the city you'd live in, not the metro.

Does Alabama get hurricanes and tornadoes?

Both, in different halves of the state. Mobile and Baldwin counties take Gulf hurricanes and carry the wind-insurance premiums to prove it; the FEMA risk index of 31.1 is 5% above the national average mostly because of that coast. North and central Alabama sit in a tornado belt with a spring peak and a smaller fall one, and safe rooms and weather radios are ordinary household equipment.

What are the biggest industries in Alabama?

Auto manufacturing, aerospace and defense, and health care. Mercedes, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda-Toyota and their suppliers made Alabama a top auto-exporting state; Redstone Arsenal and NASA Marshall made Huntsville the high-wage exception; UAB is the state's largest employer. Steel around Birmingham, poultry and timber in rural counties, and Mobile's port round it out. Cost-adjusted, the best-paid tracked profession is family medicine physicians in Birmingham-Hoover, a median $215,559.

Is Alabama cheaper than Georgia?

Yes, on every line except the paycheck. Alabama's cost index is 88.8, 11% below the national average, goods prices rank #26 cheapest, and property tax is 0.39%; Georgia sits higher on all three. Georgia pays back with higher incomes and Atlanta's job market; Alabama's median household earns $66,659, 18% below the national median. It flips for a household that buys a lot and owns little, because Alabama's 9.46% sales tax includes groceries.

All the numbers

Every metric behind Alabama's 11 category scores, with the national figure beside each. Pick a category.

Median Household Income
$66,659
Census ACS · Nat'l avg: $80,903
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
BLS LAUS · Nat'l avg: 3.9%
Population Growth
+0.58%
Census, year over year · Nat'l avg: +0.5%
49.8Economy Score · National avg: 47.1
Violent Crime Rate
348.3
per 100K · FBI estimate · Nat'l avg: 313
Property Crime Rate
1,461.8
per 100K · FBI estimate · Nat'l avg: 1,475
66.3Safety Score · National avg: 68.9
Life Expectancy
73.8 yr
CDC NCHS · Nat'l avg: 76.9 yr
Adults With Obesity
38.9%
CDC BRFSS · Nat'l avg: 34%
Uninsured
8.2%
Census ACS · Nat'l avg: 7.6%
29.5Health Score · National avg: 54.4
HS Graduation Rate
88.2%
EDFacts · Nat'l avg: 85.6%
NAEP Math, 8th Grade
262
Nation's Report Card · Nat'l avg: 273
NAEP Reading, 8th Grade
250
Nation's Report Card · Nat'l avg: 257
49.4Education Score · National avg: 57.5
GDP Per Capita
$51,087
BEA · Nat'l avg: $64,333
GDP Growth Rate
+1.8%
Real, year over year · Nat'l avg: +1.9%
Credit Rating
AA
S&P / Moody's, latest
Fiscal Score
56.4
of 100 · Nat'l avg: 58.1
Budget Balance
+5.2%
Surplus · % of revenue · NASBO
State Debt Per Capita
$2,456
Census state finances · Nat'l avg: $3,506
Rainy Day Fund
9.8%
of expenditures · Pew Fiscal 50
Pension Funded Ratio
72%
Pew · Nat'l avg: 74.3%
Tax Burden
7.99%
of income · Nat'l avg: 8.74%
Income Tax Rate
4.15%
Top rate, state + local
Property Tax Rate
0.39%
Effective rate · Nat'l avg: 1.02%
Sales Tax Rate
9.46%
State + local avg · Nat'l avg: 6.66%
56.4Fiscal Health Score · National avg: 58.1
Typical Home Value
$241,613
Latest month · Nat'l avg: $383,360
Cost of Living Index
88.8
BEA Regional Price Parity · National = 100
Price-to-Income Ratio
3.6x
Home value ÷ median income · Nat'l avg: 4.6x
Electricity
16.1¢/kWh
EIA
Natural Gas
$17.56/Mcf
EIA
Gasoline
$2.89/gal
EIA
Infant Care (Center)
$8,859/yr
Child Care Aware of America
Goods Prices
96.4
BEA price level for goods · US = 100
85.5Affordability Score · National avg: 65.2
Air Quality Index
42
EPA annual median · Nat'l avg: 38.8
Renewable Energy
9%
EIA, % of electricity · Nat'l avg: 29%
Natural Disaster Risk
31.1
FEMA NRI per capita · Nat'l avg: 30
28.3Environment Score · National avg: 42.5
Public Land
3.7%
of state area · USGS PAD-US
Recreation Facilities
1.74
per 10K residents · Census CBP
Park Acreage per Capita
0
NPS acres per resident
6.6Outdoor Access Score · National avg: 29.4
Mean Commute Time
26 min
Mean travel time to work · Census ACS
60+ Min Commute
7.2%
of workers · Census ACS
Drive Alone
80.8%
of commuters · Census ACS
Public Transit Use
0.4%
of commuters · Census ACS
Walk / Bicycle
1.3%
active commuters · Census ACS
Work From Home
8.3%
of workers · Census ACS
Vehicle Miles Traveled
14,120
per capita · FHWA
Carpool Rate
7.9%
of commuters · Census ACS
32.9Transportation Score · National avg: 49.8
Restaurants per 1K
1.565
Census County Business Patterns
Arts & Entertainment
0.013
per 1K residents · Census CBP
Social Associations
0.049
per 1K residents · Census CBP
Bars & Breweries
0.06
per 1K residents · Census CBP
22.8Livability Score · National avg: 34.3
Net Domestic Migration
+4.5
per 1,000 residents · Nat'l avg: +1.1
Migration Trend
Gaining
More people moving in than out
Broadband Subscription
91.6%
Households, any type · Census ACS · Nat'l avg: 92.7%
Households Moving In
55.4K
Top origin: Georgia
Households Moving Out
49.2K
Top destination: Georgia
53.6Growth Score · National avg: 38.8

Also consulted for the Alabama editor's notes

  • Alabama Department of Revenue, state sales tax rate on food ↗