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Best Overall Cities in Alabama

5 cities ranked · Highest MoveScore composite — safest overall balance of all six livability dimensions.

Top Cities in Alabama

  1. #1
    B

    Birmingham

    Best Overall Cities score 70 · MoveScore 70

  2. #2
    C

    Montgomery

    Best Overall Cities score 67 · MoveScore 67

  3. #3
    C

    Huntsville

    Best Overall Cities score 66 · MoveScore 66

  4. #4
    D

    Mobile

    Best Overall Cities score 51 · MoveScore 51

  5. #5
    F

    Tuscaloosa

    Best Overall Cities score 48 · MoveScore 48

Other Alabama Rankings

Best for Safety in Alabama

Lowest crime rates per FBI UCR — best for families sensitive to violent and property crime.

Best for Water Quality in Alabama

Cleanest drinking water per EPA SDWIS — fewest violations, highest safety scores.

Best for Air Quality in Alabama

Cleanest air per EPA AQS — lowest median AQI and fewest unhealthy days.

Best for Public Schools in Alabama

Strongest public school performance per NCES/EDFacts — highest average proficiency.

Best Fiscal Health in Alabama

Strongest municipal fiscal health per Census ASPEP — sustainable per-capita spending.

Best for Hospital Care in Alabama

Highest-rated hospitals per CMS HCAHPS — best patient experience scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city in Alabama ranks highest for best overall cities?

Birmingham, AL ranks #1 in Alabama for best overall cities with a sub-score of 70/100 (MoveScore 70, grade B).

How many cities in Alabama are compared?

5 Alabama cities have enough federal data for this ranking. Cities need at least three of six sub-scores for inclusion.

How is this ranking calculated?

Highest MoveScore composite — safest overall balance of all six livability dimensions. Sub-scores are normalized to 0-100 and the highest scores rank first.

Sources: FBI UCR, EPA, NCES, Census ASPEP, CMS HCAHPS
Last updated:

Alabama-specific ranking using the composite MoveScore, normalized to 0-100. Cities need at least three federal sub-scores to be included.