Alabama Area Profiles
8 published city profiles across Alabama, each built from the same authoritative sources and compared on the same terms.
Statewide signals
affordabilityTop 32% of 51 states95
Opportunity42nd of 51 states37
GrowthTop 16% of 51 states64
ClimateTop 2% of 51 states82
Physical resilience39th of 51 states42
AccessTop 46% of 51 states75
Economic stability48th of 51 states12
Cities
| City | Population | Opportunity | Growth | Area Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | 222,791 | 76 | 83 | 71 |
| Huntsville | 222,791 | 76 | 83 | 74 |
| Mobile | 203,416 | 39 | 29 | 46 |
| Mobile | 203,416 | 39 | 29 | 51 |
| Birmingham | 198,173 | 39 | 40 | 58 |
| Birmingham | 198,173 | 39 | 40 | 56 |
| Montgomery | 197,494 | 45 | 50 | 58 |
| Montgomery | 197,494 | 45 | 50 | 63 |
Strongest opportunity
- Huntsville 76
- Huntsville 76
- Montgomery 45
- Montgomery 45
- Birmingham 39
Fastest development
- Huntsville 83
- Huntsville 83
- Montgomery 50
- Montgomery 50
- Birmingham 40
Statewide physical risk
TornadoModerate
LightningModerate
Heat waveModerate
Inland floodingModerate
EarthquakeModerate
HurricaneModerate
Low or minimal exposure: strong wind, cold wave, landslide, wildfire, ice storm, drought, winter weather, hail, coastal flooding.
Population-weighted across every county in Alabama, derived from the FEMA National Risk Index. Exposure varies substantially within a state — check the individual city and ZIP profiles.
Statewide data
| Metric | Value | Compared with peers | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average household size ±0.01 | 2.48 | Top 41% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Households ±6,490 | 1,997,247 | Top 45% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age ±0.2 | 39.3 | Top 43% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population | 5,086,768 | Top 45% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 100/sq mi | Bottom 45% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Home price to income | 3.28 | Bottom 29% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 70.2% | Top 25% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units ±430 | 2,337,265 | Top 45% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent ±$8 | $1,007 | Bottom 18% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value ±$1,076 | $209,900 | Bottom 14% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Rent as a share of income | 18.9% | Top 49% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Vacancy rate | 14.5% | Top 14% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income ±$399 | $63,999 | Bottom 12% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income ±$217 | $36,087 | Bottom 14% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.6% | Top 14% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | Top 43% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.4% | Bottom 14% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Employment | 2,268,452 | Top 46% | July 2026 |
| Employment change (3 years) | 0.2% | Bottom 42% | July 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | Bottom 36% | July 2026 |
| Labor force | 2,355,417 | Top 46% | July 2026 |
| Labor force participation | 58.3% | Bottom 8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment change (year over year) | 0.7% | Top 6% | July 2026 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | Bottom 36% | July 2026 |