The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Alabama using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 41,070
- Median household income: $57,185
- Median home value: $144,800
- Top places to live: Alexander City (B), Tallassee (B), Daviston (A-)
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 19,027
- Median household income: $44,205
- Median home value: $103,400
- Top places to live: Demopolis (B), Sweet Water (B+), Thomaston (B)
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 89,463
- Median household income: $60,916
- Median home value: $180,500
- Top places to live: Cullman (B+), Good Hope (B+), Hanceville (B-)
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 123,742
- Median household income: $64,858
- Median home value: $193,000
- Top places to live: Hartselle (A-), Priceville (A-), Decatur (B+)
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 13,144
- Median household income: $49,040
- Median home value: $108,400
- Top places to live: Brantley (B+), Luverne (B), Dozier (B)
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (A), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 17,450
- Median household income: $60,135
- Median home value: $147,800
- Top places to live: Headland (A-), Newville (B), Abbeville (B)
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 15,270
- Median household income: $60,503
- Median home value: $152,800
- Top places to live: Leroy (A-), McIntosh (B+), Chatom (B-)
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (C), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 669,744
- Median household income: $64,589
- Median home value: $224,900
- Top places to live: Homewood (A+), Hoover (A+), Vestavia Hills (A+)
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A), cost of living (A), weather (B+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 49,516
- Median household income: $53,955
- Median home value: $129,100
- Top places to live: Newton (B+), Daleville (B), Level Plains (B)
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B-), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 413,162
- Median household income: $58,119
- Median home value: $176,600
- Top places to live: Satsuma (B+), Saraland (B+), Mobile (B+)
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 59,285
- Median household income: $69,841
- Median home value: $197,900
- Top places to live: Prattville (A), Pine Level (B), Marbury (B+)
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 98,712
- Median household income: $60,946
- Median home value: $183,400
- Top places to live: Guntersville (B+), Albertville (B+), Arab (B+)
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 54,231
- Median household income: $64,672
- Median home value: $180,300
- Top places to live: Enterprise (A-), New Brockton (A-), Kinston (B)
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 71,946
- Median household income: $51,149
- Median home value: $135,500
- Top places to live: Fort Payne (B+), Sylvania (A-), Rainsville (A-)
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 37,647
- Median household income: $50,886
- Median home value: $142,500
- Top places to live: Andalusia (A-), Opp (B-), Red Level (B+)
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 234,036
- Median household income: $63,947
- Median home value: $233,700
- Top places to live: Northport (A-), Lake View (B+), Tuscaloosa (B+)
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 116,141
- Median household income: $55,826
- Median home value: $149,500
- Top places to live: Oxford (A), Weaver (A-), Jacksonville (A-)
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 239,945
- Median household income: $75,019
- Median home value: $287,000
- Top places to live: Spanish Fort (A), Fairhope (A), Daphne (A)
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 107,628
- Median household income: $57,531
- Median home value: $178,000
- Top places to live: Taylor (A-), Dothan (B+), Kinsey (B+)
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 88,669
- Median household income: $75,553
- Median home value: $213,600
- Top places to live: Blue Ridge (A), Deatsville (A-), Millbrook (A-)
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 95,037
- Median household income: $59,082
- Median home value: $185,800
- Top places to live: Florence (A), Killen (B), Rogersville (A-)
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 107,577
- Median household income: $83,534
- Median home value: $255,100
- Top places to live: Athens (A), Elkmont (B+), Lester (B-)
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 177,663
- Median household income: $61,123
- Median home value: $238,700
- Top places to live: Auburn (A+), Opelika (A), Smiths Station (B+)
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 226,955
- Median household income: $93,543
- Median home value: $298,700
- Top places to live: Meadowbrook (A+), Indian Springs Village (A+), Pelham (A+)
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 397,135
- Median household income: $83,528
- Median home value: $267,800
- Top places to live: Madison (A+), Huntsville (A), Hazel Green (A)
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