AL69nTurnRightArab, 2014
Arab’s story
144 years in pictures
Census counts: 264 in 1920, 8,461 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2014 and 4 maps from 1936 on.
- 1882Arab is settled
ArabAL
A town of 9,061, settled in 1882. Public schools that outperform most of Alabama.
Trash day: look up yoursPhoto: formulanone · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
9,061
2025 Census estimate · +7.4% since 2020
Typical home
$239K
+1.9% in a year
Household income
$64K
median
Median age
35.9
years
Jobs based here
3,739
Balanced
TownGrade
C+
#69 of 187 in AL
Is Arab a good place to live?
Arab gives you more for your money than most places: homes are within reach, about $239K for a typical one, or 3.8 years of the Albertville area’s $63K median household income. It grades C+ overall, 69th of 187 graded towns in Alabama. The low prices come with trade-offs. Its police reported 34 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025, a higher rate per resident than 87% of U.S. towns. On the plus side, its schools outperform 90% of the state's. Arab’s property crime rate is 25.8 per 1,000 residents, against 16.9 in Alabama’s towns and 9.9 across U.S. towns. Arab's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 91% of U.S. towns. Among 187 Alabama towns, just 4 have a lower July high than Arab.
What makes Arab stand out
Where Arab beats most towns.
Arab City schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Arab Primary School | PK–2 | 698 |
| Arab Elementary School | 3–5 | 599 |
| Arab Junior High School | 6–8 | 563 |
SchoolsA
#13 of the 187 Alabama towns we grade for schools
NCES · EDFacts.
Typical home value
Arab$239K
Alabama$239K
Cost of livingA−
More affordable than 82% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
How Arab grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Alabama), ordered by how far Arab is from typical.
SchoolsAOpen →SafetyDOpen →Cost of livingA−Open →HealthCullman Regional Medical Center 19.6 miles awayCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.2 of 20; 4.3% of households have no car; 0.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →Jobs & incomeC+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 36% of U.S. communities; tornadoes tops the listC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0 miles of trails; 1% conserved landC−Open →History2 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life1.8 library visits per resident; 2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 88° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market111 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 35.9; 26% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Arab: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Arab, and how to reach them.
PowerArab Electric Coop12.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Arab, Water Works Board of theNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Alabama you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person until 15 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereMarshall County Circuit ClerkMarshall County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021
ZIP code3501635016 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Arab.
Arab pairs an A for schools with modest home prices, trades lower home prices for longer drives to work and trades workers with Huntsville and other neighbors.
SchoolsA
For schools, Arab earns an A
Its A for schools comes with an A− for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $239K.
Its public schools are run by the Arab City school district. Three of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Arab High School, with 735 students.
90%of AL districts it outscoresASchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arab Primary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–2 | Grades PK–2 | 698 | – |
| Arab High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 735 | A− |
| Arab Elementary SchoolTop results in townGrades 3–5 | Grades 3–5 | 599 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AL on state tests and graduation
SafetyD
For safety, Arab earns a D
The violent crime rate in Arab is 3.8 per 1,000 residents. Arab reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 87% report less. Within Alabama, it does better than 35% of towns.
13%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Arab3.8
Alabama3.5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Arab25.8
Alabama15
U.S.15.5
13th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
35th
percentile among AL towns
34
violent crimes reported in 2025
233
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HealthC
Arab is less healthy than 70% of U.S. towns
Within Alabama it is healthier than 54% of the 187 graded towns: much of Alabama scores lower on these measures.
Arab beats the Alabama average on 4 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 26% of Arab adults have been diagnosed with depression.
30%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade
| Arab | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 24% | 23% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 43% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 15% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 15% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Alabama
4 better27 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Arab | AL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 10.6% | 13.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.2% | 8.2% |
Cullman Regional Medical Center
19.6 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
54th
percentile among AL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
In Arab, expect mild winters and hot summers
The Guntersville weather station, 10 miles away, records that about 49 days a year reach 90°: more than most of the country, but fewer than 85% of Alabama places with climate records. July afternoons average 88.3°: hotter than most of the country, but cooler than 95% of Alabama places with climate records; January nights average 31.6°.
Arab has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. Arab’s January low is 32°F. Snow is almost unheard of.
88°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter34–53°
Spring50–71°
Summer67–87°
Fall51–73°
Nov 18
typical first frost
Mar 19
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
88°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
About one in six working residents works right in Arab
Arab has about as many jobs (3,739) as working residents, but only 619 people both live and work here.
Most working residents leave Arab for work: only 17% work in town. Jobs based in Arab grew to 3,739 in 2023, 400 more than in 2013. The top destinations are Huntsville (25%), Guntersville (5%) and Birmingham (4%).
17%work in town
| Arab | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 17% | 9.8% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 16% | 9.6% |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 6.7% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In Arab17%
Huntsville25%
Guntersville5%
Birmingham4%
Albertville3%
26 mi
median commute distance
3,739
jobs based in Arab
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 36% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Arab faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by tornadoes
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 64% of U.S. communities. Since 2001, 6 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Arab.
36risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
TornadoesInland floodingCold waves
6
paid flood claims since 2001
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
More children than Alabama overall
Children under 18 are 27% of residents (22% statewide). Arab has grown 7.4% since 2020, to 9,061 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 16% of residents are 65 or older in Arab.
35.9median age · AL 39.3
| Arab | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 27% | 23% | 22% |
| Median age | 35.9 years | 39.2 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 16% | 18% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 26% | 23% | 29% |
ArabAlabamaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma9%
High school29%
Some college24%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s17%
Graduate9%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±1.7 points. Across Alabama, 51.4% of residents are women. Median age: women 37.4, men 34.0.
| Arab | AL | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 15.1% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.9% | 10.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.9% | 9.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13.6% | 12.9% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.5% | 12.4% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.8% | 12.2% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.7% | 13% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 8.6% | 10.7% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6.9% | 7.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 9.4% | 11.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 29.1% | 30.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 24.1% | 20.8% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.6% | 9.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 17% | 17.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 8.9% | 11.1% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
1.2%conserved
1.2%
conserved · 100 of 8,574 acres
0.1 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Arab City Park | — | 14 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HousingCost of living grade A−
For cost of living, Arab earns an A−
Homes are within reach (about $239K for the typical one, A− for cost of living), but half of working residents commute more than 26 miles.
The typical Arab home is worth about $239,000, up 1.9% in a year, close to the Alabama typical home.
$239KZillow home value
| Arab | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $718 a month | $943 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 70% | 69% | 73% |
Typical home value
Arab$239K
Alabama$239K
Market temperature
111
days on market
93.9%
sale-to-list price
+1.9%
value change, 1 year
8
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Arab
20pages on Arab
The big questions
SchoolsABeat 90% of AL districts · 4 schoolsSafetyD3.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthCBetter than AL on 4 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA−$239K typical home · up 1.9% in a yearWork & commuteC+$64K median household income · 3,739 jobs hereNatural hazardsC+FEMA risk higher than 36% of U.S. communities · tornadoes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Arab; the nearest are
Snead State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Boaz21 mi$5,278 in-state tuitionUniversity of Alabama in HuntsvilleUniversity or college · Public · Huntsville28.2 mi$12,132 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Arab residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Alabama.
About Arab
City in Alabama, United States
Arab ( ) is a city mostly in Marshall County, with a portion in Cullman County, in the northern part of the U.S. state of Alabama, located 10 miles (16 km) from Guntersville Lake and Guntersville Dam, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. The population was 8,461 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1882
- Area
- 13 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,089 ft
- ZIP code
- 35016
- Area code
- 256
Questions about Arab
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Arab, AL a good place to live?
Arab grades C+ overall, better than 43% of U.S. towns and #69 of 187 in Alabama. It grades C for health, D for safety and A for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Arab, AL safe?
Within Alabama, it does better than 35% of towns.
Is Arab, AL expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A−.
What is Arab, AL known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Wayne Mills and Randall Shedd.