Living in Alabama

#25 in population growth

Should you move to Alabama?

Alabama, fondly referred to as the Heart of Dixie, is a place where Southern hospitality, history, and natural beauty thrive. Home to spectacular mountains, beautiful beaches, and bustling cities, Alabama offers an impressive range of landscapes and lifestyles.

Alabama’s economy is diverse and dynamic. Once dominated by agriculture, the state now has flourishing aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors. Huntsville, known as Rocket City, is a significant aerospace and military tech center, while Birmingham has a thriving medical research environment at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Living in Alabama is all about embracing Southern charm and the great outdoors. Whether it’s relaxing on the stunning Gulf Coast beaches, hiking in the Appalachian foothills, or visiting the historic sites of Montgomery and Selma, there’s always something to discover. The state also loves college football – when the Alabama Crimson Tide or Auburn Tigers are playing, expect everything to come to a halt!

Alabama takes pride in its education, with notable institutions such as the University of Alabama, Auburn University, and Tuskegee University offering diverse programs.

So, if a warm, hospitable state with a mix of vibrant cities, historic charm, and outdoor wonders sounds like your kind of place, Alabama could be your next destination. But, keep in mind, the summers here can get quite hot and humid!

#24 in population

Population

5,074,296

National Avg 6,652,315

#24 in population

Population Per Square Mile

99

National Avg 206.5 persons/square mile

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How Does Alabama Score?

A
Home Affordability
A
Cost of Living
B
Diversity

LEARN ABOUT
RANKINGS & DATA

Metropolitans

Living in Alabama

Climate

How Does Alabama Compare?

#16
in Sunny Days
#3
in Annual Rainfall
#31
in Daytime Humidity

Healthcare

#42

How Does Alabama Compare?

#42
in Healthcare
#40
in Available Beds
#40
in Doctors Per Resident

2

Children's Hospitals

1

VA Medical Centers

16

VA Clinics

Alabama Marijuana Laws

Cost of Living

#4

How Does Alabama Compare?

#4
in Cost of Living
#31
in Minimum Hourly Wage
#12
in Living Wage

Alabama State Taxes

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Essential New Mover Steps

What costs and challenges will you face when relocating to Alabama? Start your journey by preparing with these key steps.

eMortgage connects you with up to 5 competing mortgage lenders through a quick, streamlined process.

Renter tested. Landlord approved. Starting from $5/mo.

Moving costs can add up quickly. Start budgeting by tackling one of your largest costs first by requesting a free online quote from 1-800-Pack-Rat.

Education in Alabama

#47

Alabama School Districts

8th Grade Proficiency (2022)

Ranked #46 in Mathematics

Basic Proficiency

53%

Proficient or Above

19%

Ranked #47 in Reading

Basic Proficiency

61%

Proficient or Above

22%

Education Attainment

High School Degree
87.4%
Bachelors Degree
26.7%

Raising a Family?

See if any of these family-friendly places are a fit for yours.

Places (Cities & Towns)

Get to Know Alabama

State Capital

Montgomery

Area Codes

205, 251, 256, 334, 659, 938

Time Zone

Central Time Zone

Number of Counties

67

Land Area (square miles)

50,647

Motto

Audemus jura nostra defendere (We dare defend our rights)

State Bird

Yellowhammer

Housing

#6
#6 in home affordability

Median Home Value

$165,200

National $440,300

#7 in rent affordability

Median Rent

$852

National $1,702

Average Homeownership cost

$383

Taxes, Insurance, Utilities, HOA (no mortgage)

Total Households

1,902,983

Persons Per Household

2.57

Rent vs Own

Own 69.4%
Rent 30.6%

Economy

#45 in household income

Median Household Income

54,943

National $70,784

#47 in labor participation
% in Labor Force
57.4%
Poverty Rate
16.1%

Industries by Revenue

in $1,000s

Health & Social Assistance Revenue

$31,238,872

Accomodations & Food Revenue

$10,527,667

Transportation & Warehousing Revenue

$8,990,180

Per Capita Retail Sales

13,067

Counties

Diversity

#26
White alone
68.9%
Black or African American alone
26.8%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone
0.7%
Asian alone
1.6%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone
0.1%
Two or More Races
2%
Hispanic or Latino
4.9%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino
64.7%

Foreign Born Persons

3.5%

Veterans

324845

Persons Under 5 years
5.7%
Persons Under 18 years
21.9%
Persons 65 years and over
18%

Is Diversity essential?

Find culture and diversity in the Most Diverse Places in the US.

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