Looking for a new place to move once you hit the retirement age can be nerve wrecking, but also liberating since you know you’re going to take on a new adventure even if it only means you’re moving out of state, so we’re going to take a look at the 7 best places to retire in Alabama.
As you know, Alabama is in the southeast region of the United States, bordering Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, the Gulf of Mexico and Mississippi. The state’s territory spreads over 52,419 square miles, out of which 3.2 percent is water. Talking of which, it is also the home of the second largest inland waterway system in the entire United States so if you want to take a boat out, you should definitely try it out.
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For the most part, Alabama comes with plain land, but the northern area is covered in mountains. The rest is covered in creeks, rivers, and lakes, giving residents the opportunity to go fishing, boating and to enjoy other water sports if they so desire. There are also quite a few forests throughout the state, so you can enjoy some time out in nature if you usually like the outdoors.
One thing that stands out is the meteorite impact crater from Elmore County, the Wetumpka crater, which is 5 miles wide.
The climate in Alabama is humid subtropical, with the warmest weather being registered in the southern area, close to the Gulf of Mexico. The northern area, in the Appalachians, for instance, is cooler.
Alabama is home to over 4.7 million people. The median home price throughout the state is $126,400 while the cost of living index is well below the national average, namely 89.5. The number of doctors for each 100,000 people is 208. If you’re still unsure, you can jump really quick and read about the 7 best places to retire in Arkansas if you want.
In order to create our list today, we checked out all 67 counties in Alabama and gathered information regarding the median home price, cost of living index, crime rate, a number of doctors per 100,000 people and average commute time. We ranked them based on these aspects, added things up and rewarded the counties that have more doctors than the state’s average some extra points before tallying things up. Information comes from Sperling’s Best Places which gathers data from a wealth of government sources, including the Census Bureau.
Without further ado here are the 7 best places to retire in Alabama.
7. Madison
Score: 11
Median home price: $164,900
Cost of living index: 98.2
Average commute time: 20.91
Crime rate: 41
Doctors per 100K: 263
Up north bordering Tennessee is Madison County, which spreads over 813 square miles. This is home to over 334,000 people, so it’s a pretty densely populated county. If you enjoy going out on the water, then you should know you can enjoy several rivers, such as Tennessee River and Paint Rock River. The area is pretty green so time out in nature should be pretty welcome.
The median home price in the area is under $165,000 while the cost of living index is a little bit below the national average. The average commute time in Madison is under 21 minutes, which is more than acceptable, while the crime rate is a manageable 41, with 1 being the lowest and safest option.
Madison County has a pretty good doctors’ density which was calculated at 263 per 100,000 people, which is more than the state’s 208.
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6. Jefferson
Score: 12
Median home price: $142,000
Cost of living index: 88.3
Average commute time: 23.36
Crime rate: 51
Doctors per 100K: 503
In the northern half of Alabama, you can find Jefferson County, home to over 658,000 people. Since the county only spreads over 1,124 square miles, there’s a pretty high density so you’re never too far from the hustle and bustle of a crowded city. The county seat of Jefferson is Birmingham, which is actually the most populous city in the whole of Alabama.
Residents and visitors can enjoy visiting the Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge, which is a 25 acre land over in Bessemer City. Its purpose is to protect the endangered species of watercress darter. Therefore, fishing isn’t permitted on the refuge, but you can hike and enjoy some time out in the wild.
The median home price in Jefferson County is $142,000 while the cost of living index is 88.3, considerably lower than the national average. Since healthcare is such an important issue, especially after a certain age, you should know there are 503 physicians for every 100,000 residents.
5. Choctaw
Score: 12
Median home price: $59,000
Cost of living index: 76.6
Average commute time: 33.64
Crime rate: 38
Doctors per 100K: 51
On Alabama’s western border you’ll find Choctaw County, home to nearly 14,000 people. The total area of the county is 921 square miles, which is pretty large, leaving lots of elbow room if that’s what you’re looking for. The whole area is pretty flat, although there are some bodies of water in the area since 0.8 percent of the territory is covered by water.
The Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge is one of the areas where you’ll find most of the said water and be able to enjoy some quality time out in nature. The area was established to protect the wood duck and to protect the wintering area of the waterfowl. There are plenty of lakes, creeks and loads of moist soil here so you should be careful where you step when hiking around here.
The median home price in Choctaw County is $59,000, while the cost of living index is a whopping 76.6, meaning you’ll be spending a lot less than you probably are now. The only downside is that there are only 51 doctors per 100,000 people in the area, but that’s pretty much a given with less populated counties.
4. Wilcox
Score: 14
Median home price: $58,000
Cost of living index: 75.7
Average commute time: 23.45
Crime rate: 62
Doctors per 100K: 51
Spread over 907 square miles, in the southern part of Alabama, sits Wilcox County, home to over 11,600 people. This is pretty much a rural area and, a few years ago, it was considered the poorest county in the United States, coming last with a median household income of a little over $43,000. That shouldn’t discourage you, however.
Houses in the area go for $58,000 on average, which is more than easily accessible. The cost of living index is 75.7 here, so at least it fits right in with the low household income reported in the county. The crime rate is a bit higher than in other areas, namely 62. The number of doctors per 100,000 residents is 51, so, once again, it’s a bit lower than ideal.
3. Shelby
Score: 14
Median home price: $166,800
Cost of living index: 93.4
Average commute time: 29.45
Crime rate: 26
Doctors per 100K: 252
In the middle of Alabama, you’ll find Shelby County, which has a population of over 195,000 people spread over 810 square miles, making for a medium population density.
While most of the county is pretty much flat, there are areas where the southernmost areas of the Appalachian Mountains reach Shelby, such as Oak Mountain. Other than that, there are plenty of rivers and lakes to enjoy, including a large man-made reservoir called Lay Lake.
The median home price is $166,800 while the cost of living index is just a bit below the national average. The number of doctors per 100,000 people, however, is 252, above the state’s average. At the same time, the crime rate is 26, which is great to know and should make you feel safe.
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2. Montgomery
Score: 16
Median home price: $119,800
Cost of living index: 89.1
Average commute time: 19.52
Crime rate: 66
Doctors per 100K: 268
Up next is Montgomery County, home to over 229,000 people. The entire county covers 800 square miles so the population density is pretty high while still giving people elbow room. The county is full of history, so there’s plenty of things to visit if you want, not to mention loads of outdoor activities to do. Furthermore, the county offers loads of areas where you can enjoy nature, including rivers, lakes, and forests.
The median home price here is $119,800 while the cost of living index is over 10 points below the national average. The average commute time is under 20 minutes, which is great. The number of doctors per 100,000 people is 268, which is above the state’s average. On the downside, the crime rate was calculated at 66, which isn’t all that great.
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1. Houston
Score: 16
Median home price: $124,300
Cost of living index: 87.8
Average commute time: 20.44
Crime rate: 59
Doctors per 100K: 341
At the top of our list is Houston County, home to over 101,000 people. The county is situated in the southeast corner of Alabama, bordering both Georgia and Florida. The total territory is 582 square miles, most of which is flat land.
The median home price here is a bit over $124,000 while the cost of living index is 87.8. The average commute time is just a bit over 20 minutes, so you shouldn’t be worrying about traffic all that much. The crime rate is 59 out of 100, which isn’t all that great, but still manageable. The number of doctors 100,000 people is 341, which is well above the state average and even above the national average.
All in all, Houston County takes the top of the list of the 7 best places to retire in Alabama.
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