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201309_BPL_PELHAM
Pelham, AL
City of Pelham

Top 50 rank: 47

Population: 22,297

This Birmingham suburb is a town on the rise. With new residents attracted by its steady job growth and low property taxes, Pelham's population has more than doubled over the past 20 years. The local unemployment rate, at 4.5%, is one of the lowest on the list.

Tucked up against Oak Mountain State Park, Alabama's largest, where visitors can bike, fish, go boating, and more, the area offers no shortage of outdoor adventure. --S.M.

Pelham, AL

Town stats

Pelham, AL

Town stats

Median family income (per year) $78,027
Job growth % (2010-2012) 5.80%
Median home price (2012) $135,000
Reading test scores (% above/below average) 10.4%
Math test scores (% above/below average) 12.3%
Personal crime incidents (per 1,000) 1
Property crime incidents (per 1,000) 18

Financials

Median family income (per year) $78,027
Family purchasing power (annual, cost-of-living adjusted) $88,136
Sales tax 8.00%
State income tax rate (highest bracket) 5.00%I
State income tax rate (lowest bracket) 2.00%I
Auto insurance premiums (Average price quotes, for the state) $1,214
Job growth % (2010-2012) 5.80%

Financials

Housing

Median home price (2012) $135,000
Average property taxes (2012) $1,055

Housing

Education

Colleges, universities and professional schools (within 30 miles) 11
Reading test scores (% above/below state average) 10.4%
Test scores math (% above/below average) 12.3%
% students attending public/private schools (located within town limits) 99.9/0.1

Education

Quality of life

Air quality index* (% of days AQI ranked as good) 86.2%
Personal crime incidents (per 1,000) 1
Property crime incidents (per 1,000) 18
Median commute time (in minutes) 24.3
% population with commute 45 mins. or longer 15.2%
% population walk or bike to work 1.9%

Quality of life

Leisure and culture

Movie theaters (within 15 miles) 20
Restaurants (within 15 miles) 1,355
Bars (within 15 miles) 147
Public golf courses (within 30 miles) 53
Libraries (within 15 miles) 54
Museums (accredited by AAM; within 30 miles) 2
Ski resorts (within 100 miles) N.A.
Arts funding (Dollars per person of state funds spent on arts) 0.8

Leisure and culture

Weather

Annual rainfall (inches) 53.99
% clear days in the area 58%
High temp in July ° F 93.6°
Low temp in Jan ° F 30.8°

Weather

Meet the neighbors

Median age 35.2
Completed at least some college (% of residents) 69.7%
Married % 53.9%
Divorced % 9.2%
Racial diversity index (100 is national average; higher numbers indicate greater diversity) 87.3

Meet the neighbors