The 10 Best Cities in Alabama

Alabama is the 23rd most populous state in the country. Known as the Heart of Dixie and the Cotton State, it has long had a dependence on agriculture for its economy, but that’s changing today. With Birmingham as the state’s largest city, and Mobile as its oldest, there are some great places to live in Alabama, but which are the best? We’ve ranked the 10 largest cities in the state according to how good they are to live in – crime, cost of living, amenities, education, employment, housing, and weather were all considered. Here are the 10 best cities in Alabama:

10. Birmingham

The largest city in Alabama is home to around one quarter of the state’s population, but it ranks as only the 10th best city in Alabama. In actuality Birmingham is a nice place to live but it scores lower than average on employment and crime though these are made up for by the very affordable cost of living and great access to amenities.

9. Mobile

Mobile is the third largest city in Alabama, and the ninth best city in the state. Full of history – Mobile was the first capital of colonial French Louisiana in 1702 – it’s today a vibrant port city that ranks better than Birmingham for employment, though isn’t quite as well endowed when it comes to amenities.

8. Dothan

The Peanut Capital of the World, Dothan is only the seventh largest city, and the eighth best place to live in Alabama. The city again scores highly for amenities and cost of living, plus housing is slightly more affordable here. A high crime index kept Dothan from scoring any better.

7. Decatur

Decatur, The River City, is in Northern Alabama, and it’s the eighth largest city in the state. Decatur comes seventh on our list of the best cities in Alabama, scoring highly again for cost of living, and average for housing, but better in the employment category, and slightly better for crime.

6. Montgomery

The capital of Alabama, and the second largest city in the state, is Montgomery. The city played a major part in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. Montgomery is the sixth best place to live in Alabama, scoring best on amenities, cost of living, and weather, while crime levels kept the city from being ranked any higher.

5. Tuscaloosa

Tuscaloosa takes the mid-point in our list of the best cities in Alabama. In west-central Alabama, Tuscaloosa is the fifth largest city in the state and has won a number of quality of life accolades. It ranks best in terms of cost of living and access to amenities, and is average from crime, education, and housing.

4. Huntsville

Set in the far north of Alabama is the city of Huntsville. It’s the fourth largest city in the state, and the fourth best place to live in Alabama. Crime levels are about on par with the rest of the cities on our list, but Huntsville scores better than average on education and employment. Amenities and cost of living are both very good.

3. Auburn

The third best city in Alabama is Auburn. This city in Lee County is the largest in eastern Alabama and home of Auburn University. A lower crime rate, good education, affordable housing, and good weather are the plus points of life in Auburn, though the city is brought down by higher unemployment levels.

2. Madison

The city of Madison is the tenth largest in the state, and it’s in the north of Alabama. Being a smaller city Madison doesn’t score so highly in access to amenities, and the cost of living is above average. It does have a low crime rating, good schools, low unemployment, affordable housing, and good weather, making it the second best city in Alabama.

1. Hoover

Hoover tops the list as the best city in Alabama! Set in north central Alabama, Hoover is the sixth largest city in the state and is set on the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Hoover comes out top because of its great access to amenities, the lowest crime index among our ten cities, best for education, employment, and housing. The only downside to Hoover is the cost of living – it’s the worst of all cities in our list.