Ardmore vs Lester
Ardmore, Alabama versus Lester, Alabama: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Lester edges out Ardmore on overall objective livability (46 vs 42 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Ardmore | Lester |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $40k | $61k |
| Cost of Living | $49k | $49k |
| Home Value | $149k | $120k |
| Monthly Rent | $691 | $743 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $318 | $31 |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.37% | 0.39% |
| Income Tax | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| Sales Tax | 9.29% | 9.29% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.45% | 8.83% |
| Unemployment | 1.7% | 9.1% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 42°F | 42°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 80°F | 80°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.7 in | 58.5 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.3 in | 1.9 in |
| Sunny Days | 229 days | 261 days |
| Summer Humidity | 70°F | 70°F |
| Comfortable Days | 73 days | 75 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 47.6 | 73.0 |
| Air Quality | 29 AQI | 36 AQI |
| School Quality | 17.8 | 17.8 |
| Violent Crime | 1067/100k | 449/100k |
| Property Crime | 1636/100k | 775/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 1,304 | 141 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 37.9 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.23 | 0.15 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.98 | 0.88 |
| Political Leaning | R+43 | R+43 |
| White (%) | 84.0% | 92.2% |
| Black (%) | 7.1% | 3.5% |
| Hispanic (%) | 3.2% | 0.0% |
| Asian (%) | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.3% | 4.3% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 32 min | — |
| Walkability | 3.6/20 | 2.8/20 |
| Airport Distance | 79 mi | 83 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 77.7% | 77.8% |
| Amenities Nearby | 30.67 | 70.92 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | Limited |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Ardmore or Lester more affordable?
- Lester has the lower cost of living: its index is $49k, compared with Ardmore's $49k and Lester's $49k. Median rent is $691 in Ardmore versus $743 in Lester.
- Is Ardmore or Lester safer?
- Lester has the lower violent crime rate. Ardmore reports 1067/100k and Lester reports 449/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Ardmore or Lester?
- The median home value is $149k in Ardmore and $120k in Lester, so homes are more affordable in Lester.