Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The best of Linden’s subject grades is a B+ for cost of living; the weakest is a D− for incomes. Only 16 of Alabama’s 308 towns score lower on health. Linden's public schools trail 86% of Alabama towns on state tests and graduation. Only 24 of Alabama’s 306 towns score lower on incomes. Old Courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places. Linden has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Linden beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Old Courthouse| Widest gap | Linden | AL |
|---|---|---|
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 17.9% | 9.6% |
Where Linden’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Alabama), ordered by how far Linden is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 171 in 1860, a peak of 2,773 in 1980, 1,930 in 2020. The archive holds 11 old photos and papers going back to 1933 and 2 maps from 1970 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Linden, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Linden.
35% of Linden adults say their health is fair or poor, above both the Alabama town median (24%) and the median of U.S. towns (19%). 38% of adults feel lonely in Linden. Among 188 Alabama towns, just 3 have a higher share of adults who report frequent physical distress than Linden.
| Linden | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 35% | 24% | 19% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 15% | 12% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 30% | 25% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 56% | 43% | 35% |
| What stands out | Linden | AL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 10.5% | 14.1% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.5% | 78% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 17.9% | 9.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Its public schools are run by the Linden City school district. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linden Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 184 | C− |
| Linden High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 126 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AL on state tests and graduation
Most working residents leave Linden for work: only 10% work in town. 23% of Linden residents live below the poverty line, above both Alabama’s towns (16%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). The median household income in Linden is $39,000.
| Linden | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 23% | 16% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $39,000 | $62,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 78% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Linden since 1979.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Linden has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. Linden’s July high is 92°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Linden's reported crime rate is well above Alabama's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. 9 violent crimes were reported in 2025.
| Linden | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 5 per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 23.5 per 1,000 residents | 16.9 | 9.9 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
None within 15 miles of Linden; the nearest are
About 2 of every 100 Linden residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Alabama.
City in Alabama, United States
Linden is a city in and the county seat of Marengo County, Alabama, United States. The population was 1,930 at the 2020 census, down from 2,123 at the 2010 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
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 B+.
2 notable people were born here, including Ralph Abernathy and Roy Rogers.