Alabaster, Alabama
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 26% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade B, better than 68% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 41% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B, better than 52% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B+, better than 71% of US places
- top 8% for property tax rate
- top 11% for park & nature access
- bottom 8% for sales tax
Alabaster is a mid-size city in Alabama with about 33,000 residents. It grades B+ for lifestyle & connectivity and C for affordability. Standout strengths include property tax rate, park & nature access, and airport distance. It rates lower on summer humidity and sales tax.
Official websitecityofalabaster.com (opens in new tab)
Climate
Hot, humid summers · Cool winters · Wet
cool
comfortable
warm
hot
warm
comf.
cool
79%58%clearovercast
Precipitation 5.9 in4.1 in
muggy 91%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$89k79th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$56kbetter than 19% of US places
Home Value$227k66th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 26% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 42% of US places
Property Tax Rate0.45%better than 92% of US places
Income Tax5.00%better than 47% of US places
Sales Tax9.29%better than 8% of US places
Estimated total tax burden9.21%better than 59% of US places
Unemployment3.0%better than 59% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)44°F79th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)80°F76th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation58.7 in94th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall1.2 inbetter than 78% of US places
Sunny Days264 daysbetter than 82% of US places
Summer Humidity71°Fbetter than 10% of US places
Comfortable Days80 daysbetter than 44% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk61.1better than 56% of US places
Air Quality38 AQIbetter than 81% of US places
School Quality49.6better than 35% of US places
Violent Crime845/100kbetter than 44% of US places
Property Crime2102/100kbetter than 17% of US places
Community
Population33,41796th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age39.945th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.4578th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9645th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+4168th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)69.4%30th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)17.6%89th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)8.8%70th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)1.3%74th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)2.9%51st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time32 minbetter than 17% of US places
Walkability6.3/20better than 46% of US places
Airport Distance24 mibetter than 86% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access93.9%better than 79% of US places
Amenities Nearby13.77better than 17% of US places
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 89% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Alabaster an affordable place to live?
- Alabaster is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $56k, better than 19% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Alabaster?
- The median home value in Alabaster is $227k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Alabaster?
- Median household income in Alabaster is $89k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Alabaster?
- Median gross rent in Alabaster is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Alabaster safe?
- Alabaster is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 845/100k (better than 44%). Property crime is 2102/100k.
- What is the weather like in Alabaster?
- Alabaster averages 80°F in July and 44°F in January, with 58.7 in of annual precipitation and about 264 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Alabaster?
- Public-school quality in Alabaster is below average, scoring better than 35% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Alabaster?
- The average one-way commute in Alabaster is 32 min.
Other places in Shelby County
Places near Alabaster
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Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)