Alabama
R+28 · Moderate tax burden · COL index 87
5%
Income Tax
547
Violent Crime / 100K
73.2
Life Expectancy
$218K
Median Home
$820
Childcare / Mo
State Profile
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Taxes
Income Tax
Property Tax
~$850/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
Housing & Cost of Living
Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Crime & Safety
Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Near national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Healthcare
State Healthcare Rank
Bottom tier
Life Expectancy
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
Education
K-12 Quality Rank
Bottom 10 nationally
School Choice / Vouchers
Childcare
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Below national avg
Utilities & Daily Costs
Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Airports & Travel
Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Regional airport — connections via hub
Culture & Lifestyle
Urban Population
Mix of urban and rural
Restaurant Density
Limited dining options
Religious Congregations
Strong religious community
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
1.1/100K residents — Limited
Craft Distilleries
Live Music
Birmingham and Huntsville growing scenes; Shoals music heritage (Muscle Shoals Sound)
Transportation
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Social & Legal
Abortion Access
Near-total ban with narrow exceptions
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
One of 5 states with no state lottery. Very restrictive — few Native American bingo halls only.
Age of Consent
Sex Education
Sex ed required by state
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
Southern Naturists club
Environment & Climate
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Near national avg
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun Laws
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Gambling
Jobs & Economy
Job Market
+1.2% job growth · 3% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
Median Household Income
Daily Life
Gas Price (Regular)
Well below avg (-0.34 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Most consumer fireworks legal statewide
Weather & Natural Risks
Winter Severity
Avg January high: 52°F
Summer Heat
Hot summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Veteran Benefits
Veteran-Friendly Score
8.4% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
100% disabled vets: full exemption
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore Alabama counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare — ranked by county
See your full cost of living in Alabama
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance — all estimated.
Compare Similar States
AL vs IN
Alabama vs Indiana
COL 87 vs 87 · 5% vs 3.05% income tax
Full comparison →
AL vs OK
Alabama vs Oklahoma
COL 87 vs 87 · 5% vs 4.75% income tax
Full comparison →
AL vs IA
Alabama vs Iowa
COL 87 vs 88 · 5% vs 3.8% income tax
Full comparison →
AL vs KS
Alabama vs Kansas
COL 87 vs 86 · 5% vs 5.7% income tax
Full comparison →
Stay Current
Get notified when Alabama tax laws, gun laws, or social policy changes.
Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI UCR ~2022. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund / US News ~2023. Education: Education Week ~2023. Housing: Zillow / Census ACS ~2024. Insurance: rate surveys ~2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.