An ideal town or neighborhood looks different for everyone.
Those who can't get enough of the outdoors may prioritize proximity to trails, lakes, and beaches, while parents are looking for places with top-ranked schools for their children. Culture lovers might want to live in a city with museums and art walks, whereas sports fans look for professional or college sports teams nearby.
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Alabama using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums.
Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.
CORRECTION: A previously published version of this piece, in some cases, incorrectly listed private schools as public schools.
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Akarawut // Shutterstock
1 / 14- Overall Rank: 1,484
- Population: 33,417
- Median household income: $89,423
- Median home value: $227,300 (85% own)
- Median rent: $1,215 (15% rent)
- Top public schools: Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge (grade A+), Meadow View Elementary (grade A), Calera Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Indian Springs School (grade A+), John Carroll Catholic High School (grade A), Briarwood Christian School (grade A)
Josep Suria // Shutterstock
2 / 14- Overall Rank: 1,472
- Population: 21,036
- Median household income: $107,360
- Median home value: $275,600 (91% own)
- Median rent: $1,287 (9% rent)
- Top public schools: Spain Park High School (grade A+), Brock's Gap Intermediate School (grade A+), Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Indian Springs School (grade A+), John Carroll Catholic High School (grade A), Briarwood Christian School (grade A)
BAZA Production // Shutterstock
3 / 14- Overall Rank: 105
- Population: 27,557
- Median household income: $97,366
- Median home value: $463,500 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,337 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Alabama School of Fine Arts (grade A+), Homewood High School (grade A+), Spain Park High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Indian Springs School (grade A+), The Altamont School (grade A+), John Carroll Catholic High School (grade A)
Stuart Monk // Shutterstock
4 / 14- Overall Rank: 485
- Population: 91,995
- Median household income: $101,765
- Median home value: $366,200 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,352 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Alabama School of Fine Arts (grade A+), Spain Park High School (grade A+), Brock's Gap Intermediate School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Indian Springs School (grade A+), The Altamont School (grade A+), John Carroll Catholic High School (grade A)
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock
5 / 14- Overall Rank: 896
- Population: 2,341
- Median household income: $135,114
- Median home value: $470,200 (97% own)
- Median rent: No data available (3% rent)
- Top public schools: Alabama School of Fine Arts (grade A+), Spain Park High School (grade A+), Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Indian Springs School (grade A+), John Carroll Catholic High School (grade A), Briarwood Christian School (grade A)
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RossHelen // Shutterstock
6 / 14- Overall Rank: 58
- Population: 56,967
- Median household income: $118,132
- Median home value: $327,100 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,201 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (grade A+), James Clemens High School (grade A+), Bob Jones High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Randolph School (grade A+), St. John Paul II Catholic High School (grade A+), Westminster Christian Academy (grade A)
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV // Shutterstock
7 / 14- Overall Rank: 248
- Population: 9,338
- Median household income: $141,620
- Median home value: $362,000 (89% own)
- Median rent: $1,536 (11% rent)
- Top public schools: Alabama School of Fine Arts (grade A+), Spain Park High School (grade A+), Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Indian Springs School (grade A+), John Carroll Catholic High School (grade A), Briarwood Christian School (grade A)
Jacek Chabraszewski // Shutterstock
8 / 14- Overall Rank: 1,260
- Population: 22,259
- Median household income: $167,007
- Median home value: $803,000 (89% own)
- Median rent: $1,521 (11% rent)
- Top public schools: Alabama School of Fine Arts (grade A+), Mt. Brook High School (grade A+), Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Indian Springs School (grade A+), The Altamont School (grade A+), John Carroll Catholic High School (grade A)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
9 / 14- Overall Rank: 1,045
- Population: 24,221
- Median household income: $94,108
- Median home value: $261,100 (84% own)
- Median rent: $1,376 (16% rent)
- Top public schools: Alabama School of Fine Arts (grade A+), Spain Park High School (grade A+), Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Indian Springs School (grade A+), John Carroll Catholic High School (grade A), Briarwood Christian School (grade A)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
10 / 14- Overall Rank: 1,999
- Population: 10,083
- Median household income: $98,350
- Median home value: $290,100 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,229 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Alabama School of Mathematics and Science (grade A+), Spanish Fort Elementary School (grade A minus), Belforest Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Paul's Episcopal School (grade A), UMS-Wright Preparatory School (grade A), Bayside Academy (grade A)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
11 / 14- Overall Rank: 2,264
- Population: 25,621
- Median household income: $118,028
- Median home value: $333,200 (93% own)
- Median rent: $1,389 (7% rent)
- Top public schools: Alabama School of Fine Arts (grade A+), Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge (grade A+), Magnolia Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Altamont School (grade A+), John Carroll Catholic High School (grade A), Mountain View Baptist School (grade A)
Laura Beach // Shutterstock
12 / 14- Overall Rank: 618
- Population: 38,600
- Median household income: $127,582
- Median home value: $467,600 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,458 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Alabama School of Fine Arts (grade A+), Spain Park High School (grade A+), Liberty Park Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Indian Springs School (grade A+), The Altamont School (grade A+), John Carroll Catholic High School (grade A)
Mila Supinskaya Glashchenko // Shutterstock
13 / 14- Overall Rank: 2,042
- Population: data not available
- Median household income: data not available
- Median home value: data not available (data not available own)
- Median rent: data not available (data not available rent)
- Top public schools:
- Top private schools:
Robert Kneschke // Shutterstock
14 / 14- Overall Rank: 843
- Population: 76,660
- Median household income: $55,509
- Median home value: $327,000 (51% own)
- Median rent: $995 (49% rent)
- Top public schools: Cary Woods Elementary School (grade A+), Dean Road Elementary School (grade A+), Richland Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Southern Preparatory Academy (grade A), Lee-Scott Academy (grade A), Chambers Academy (grade C minus)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 42 states.
