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Old Mill in Mountain Brook, AlabamaMountain Brook, #1 on this list · Photo: Robert Donovan from Franklin, TN, USA · CC BY 2.0
Alabama rankings · Civic life

Towns with the most civic life in Alabama

Mountain Brook ranks first on civic life among Alabama’s 156 towns of 2,500+; 6 of the 156 grade A− or better on civic life nationally.

The Civic life grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): library visits per resident (IMLS), community nonprofits (IRS) and volunteering groups. How grades work

#1

Mountain Brook

Jefferson County · 21,661 people
A

Civic life grade, better than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #6 of 187 in AL

#2

Gadsden

Etowah County · 33,367 people
A

Civic life grade, better than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #168 of 187 in AL

#3

Homewood

Jefferson County · 28,118 people
A−

Civic life grade, better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #36 of 187 in AL

All 156 towns

Civic life grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

156 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1Mountain BrookJefferson County · 21,661 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #6 of 187
2GadsdenEtowah County · 33,367 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #168 of 187
3HomewoodJefferson County · 28,118 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #36 of 187
4Orange BeachBaldwin County · 8,798 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #53 of 187
5FairhopeBaldwin County · 26,625 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #59 of 187
6Vestavia HillsJefferson County · 38,306 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #10 of 187
7SelmaDallas County · 16,077 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #185 of 187
8TrussvilleJefferson County · 27,273 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #21 of 187
9BirminghamJefferson County · 195,893 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #164 of 187
10Rainbow CityEtowah County · 10,406 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #94 of 187
11OpelikaLee County · 35,765 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #127 of 187
12PelhamShelby County · 25,664 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #28 of 187
13LivingstonSumter County · 3,242 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #182 of 187
14Spanish FortBaldwin County · 11,203 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #41 of 187
15CentreCherokee County · 3,912 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #129 of 187
16IrondaleJefferson County · 13,545 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #105 of 187
17HooverJefferson County · 93,550 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #19 of 187
18Pike RoadMontgomery County · 11,899 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #33 of 187
19GuntersvilleMarshall County · 9,394 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #108 of 187
20EutawGreene County · 2,640 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #145 of 187
21DalevilleDale County · 4,971 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #158 of 187
22HuntsvilleMadison County · 233,627 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #61 of 187
23RoanokeRandolph County · 5,440 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #126 of 187
24DemopolisMarengo County · 6,641 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #165 of 187
25DaphneBaldwin County · 31,396 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #30 of 187
26BrewtonEscambia County · 5,113 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #135 of 187
27MarionPerry County · 2,602 peopleC+better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #175 of 187
28AnnistonCalhoun County · 20,930 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #181 of 187
29MadisonMadison County · 67,968 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #3 of 187
30RobertsdaleBaldwin County · 7,761 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #76 of 187
31TuskegeeMacon County · 8,644 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #136 of 187
32MonroevilleMonroe County · 5,758 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #162 of 187
33GreenvilleButler County · 6,912 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #184 of 187
34FayetteFayette County · 4,060 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #130 of 187
35AndalusiaCovington County · 8,763 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #147 of 187
36FoleyBaldwin County · 30,354 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #75 of 187
37WeaverCalhoun County · 3,289 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #99 of 187
38JacksonvilleCalhoun County · 14,400 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #79 of 187
39JacksonClarke County · 4,452 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #174 of 187
40RainsvilleDeKalb County · 6,020 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #29 of 187
41TroyPike County · 18,022 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #149 of 187
42Hokes BluffEtowah County · 4,706 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #23 of 187
43AtmoreEscambia County · 8,360 peopleCbetter than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #186 of 187
44CullmanCullman County · 20,799 peopleCbetter than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #72 of 187
45PiedmontCalhoun County · 4,696 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #115 of 187
46OzarkDale County · 14,269 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #167 of 187
47MontevalloShelby County · 7,872 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #20 of 187
48ColumbianaShelby County · 5,106 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #46 of 187
49SpringvilleSt. Clair County · 5,597 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #51 of 187
50SylacaugaTalladega County · 12,055 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #154 of 187
51WetumpkaElmore County · 7,535 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #118 of 187
52MoultonLawrence County · 3,436 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #109 of 187
53MontgomeryMontgomery County · 195,300 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #152 of 187
54LeedsJefferson County · 12,831 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #87 of 187
55DadevilleTallapoosa County · 2,920 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #140 of 187
56PinsonJefferson County · 7,830 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #146 of 187
57Gulf ShoresBaldwin County · 17,394 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #74 of 187
58FlorenceLauderdale County · 42,581 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #92 of 187
59ScottsboroJackson County · 16,123 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #106 of 187
60GardendaleJefferson County · 16,425 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #67 of 187
61JasperWalker County · 14,585 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #66 of 187
62FultondaleJefferson County · 9,307 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #95 of 187
63GlencoeEtowah County · 5,426 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #56 of 187
64DothanHouston County · 72,060 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #161 of 187
65MobileMobile County · 200,824 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #169 of 187
66LanettChambers County · 6,781 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #170 of 187
67SumitonWalker County · 2,511 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #91 of 187
68AdamsvilleJefferson County · 4,178 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #122 of 187
69HeadlandHenry County · 5,603 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #48 of 187
70EvergreenConecuh County · 3,272 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #176 of 187
71AuburnLee County · 85,113 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #26 of 187
72TuscaloosaTuscaloosa County · 114,316 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #143 of 187
73ClantonChilton County · 9,289 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #138 of 187
74AttallaEtowah County · 5,807 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #141 of 187
75GenevaGeneva County · 4,307 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #71 of 187
76WarriorJefferson County · 3,320 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #97 of 187
77HeflinCleburne County · 3,572 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #107 of 187
78WinfieldMarion County · 4,842 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #83 of 187
79BoazMarshall County · 10,619 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #63 of 187
80TalladegaTalladega County · 14,840 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #172 of 187
81EufaulaBarbour County · 12,437 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #183 of 187
82New HopeMadison County · 3,054 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #31 of 187
83SatsumaMobile County · 6,851 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #44 of 187
84ThomasvilleClarke County · 3,545 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #163 of 187
85EnterpriseCoffee County · 31,211 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #114 of 187
86HelenaShelby County · 23,388 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #15 of 187
87AthensLimestone County · 34,209 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #57 of 187
88LoxleyBaldwin County · 6,131 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #102 of 187
89FairfieldJefferson County · 9,483 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #119 of 187
90CitronelleMobile County · 3,897 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #112 of 187
91PrattvilleAutauga County · 40,582 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #73 of 187
92Pleasant GroveJefferson County · 9,346 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #111 of 187
93SouthsideEtowah County · 9,718 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #25 of 187
94KimberlyJefferson County · 4,858 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #32 of 187
95Muscle ShoalsColbert County · 17,666 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #49 of 187
96CentrevilleBibb County · 2,709 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #142 of 187
97ChelseaShelby County · 17,716 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #12 of 187
98TallasseeElmore County · 4,738 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #123 of 187
99DecaturMorgan County · 58,056 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #110 of 187
100CaleraShelby County · 18,992 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #40 of 187
101ClayJefferson County · 10,198 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #132 of 187
102HartselleMorgan County · 16,312 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #37 of 187
103OdenvilleSt. Clair County · 6,023 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #80 of 187
104Owens Cross RoadsMadison County · 3,334 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #34 of 187
105BessemerJefferson County · 24,984 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #177 of 187
106Pell CitySt. Clair County · 14,320 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #134 of 187
107HueytownJefferson County · 16,159 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #153 of 187
108LuverneCrenshaw County · 2,690 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #150 of 187
109Union SpringsBullock County · 3,091 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #187 of 187
110TuscumbiaColbert County · 9,332 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #39 of 187
111MidfieldJefferson County · 4,906 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #144 of 187
112NorthportTuscaloosa County · 31,648 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #103 of 187
113Lake ViewTuscaloosa County · 3,969 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #50 of 187
114ArgoSt. Clair County · 4,376 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #2 of 187
115Bay MinetteBaldwin County · 8,555 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #121 of 187
116LincolnTalladega County · 8,110 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #131 of 187
117TrianaMadison County · 5,244 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #11 of 187
118MoodySt. Clair County · 13,559 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #58 of 187
119SheffieldColbert County · 9,416 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #151 of 187
120MargaretSt. Clair County · 7,149 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #43 of 187
121Alexander CityTallapoosa County · 14,515 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #160 of 187
122AlabasterShelby County · 34,748 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #22 of 187
123TarrantJefferson County · 5,639 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #133 of 187
124OneontaBlount County · 7,022 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #65 of 187
125ArabMarshall County · 9,061 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #69 of 187
126BrentBibb County · 4,414 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #156 of 187
127ChildersburgTalladega County · 4,571 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #137 of 187
128La FayetteChambers County · 2,621 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #155 of 187
129Fort PayneDeKalb County · 15,189 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #81 of 187
130MillbrookElmore County · 17,623 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #117 of 187
131TrinityMorgan County · 2,638 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #35 of 187
132SaralandMobile County · 16,652 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #64 of 187
133Indian Springs VillageShelby County · 2,553 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #7 of 187
134HamiltonMarion County · 6,769 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #90 of 187
135Valley GrandeDallas County · 3,903 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #179 of 187
136ElbaCoffee County · 3,408 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #166 of 187
137OppCovington County · 6,738 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #124 of 187
138Smiths StationLee County · 5,596 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #70 of 187
139HartfordGeneva County · 2,801 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #52 of 187
140Red BayFranklin County · 3,196 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #93 of 187
141OxfordCalhoun County · 22,199 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #96 of 187
142HaleyvilleWinston County · 4,303 peopleD−better than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #98 of 187
143SilverhillBaldwin County · 2,529 peopleD−better than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #89 of 187
144ValleyChambers County · 10,294 peopleD−better than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #171 of 187
145Phenix CityRussell County · 38,344 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #159 of 187
146RussellvilleFranklin County · 10,904 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #82 of 187
147ChickasawMobile County · 6,166 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #180 of 187
148Center PointJefferson County · 15,538 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #116 of 187
149PrichardMobile County · 18,825 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #173 of 187
150SemmesMobile County · 6,259 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #178 of 187
151PricevilleMorgan County · 3,952 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #4 of 187
152AlbertvilleMarshall County · 23,710 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #139 of 187
153Good HopeCullman County · 2,682 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall A− · #27 of 187
154JemisonChilton County · 3,030 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C− · #128 of 187
155MoundvilleHale County · 3,628 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C · #85 of 187
156HancevilleCullman County · 3,390 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B− · #62 of 187
Not ranked

31 towns without a civic life grade

Towns of 2,500+ that don’t have the figures this grade needs. Each town’s page says which ones are missing.

Quick answers

Questions people ask

Which Alabama town has the most civic life?

Mountain Brook (Jefferson County) ranks first on civic life among 156 towns, with an A; Gadsden and Homewood follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The Civic life grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): library visits per resident (IMLS), community nonprofits (IRS) and volunteering groups. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a civic life grade (156 in Alabama). 31 towns of 2,500+ lack the figures and are listed above. Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Alabama page.

Go deeper

More Alabama lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Alabama rankings →
Best places to live187 towns · #1 Eagle PointBest small towns117 towns · #1 Eagle PointMost affordable towns187 towns · #1 TuskegeeSafest towns130 towns · #1 SouthsideTowns with the best schools187 towns · #1 Vestavia HillsHealthiest towns187 towns · #1 Mountain BrookBest towns for jobs & income187 towns · #1 Mountain BrookMost walkable towns187 towns · #1 TarrantTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk187 towns · #1 OpelikaBest towns for the outdoors187 towns · #1 ChickasawMost historic towns187 towns · #1 ValleyTowns with the least snow52 towns · #1 ChildersburgDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns52 towns · #1 Fort PayneDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters192 towns · #1 Gulf ShoresDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers192 towns · #1 PrattvilleDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers192 towns · #1 HenagarDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes186 towns · #1 Mountain BrookDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes186 towns · #1 HoltDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns154 towns · #1 TrianaDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries71 towns · #1 Orange BeachDescribed, no letters
Other states

Towns with the most civic life in other states

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