#1Opelika
Lee County · 35,765 peopleHazard risk grade, better than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #127 of 187 in AL
Opelika, #1 on this list · Photo: Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers · CC BY-SA 3.0Alabama rankings · Hazard risk
Towns with the lowest natural-hazard risk in Alabama
Opelika ranks first on hazard risk among Alabama’s 187 towns of 2,500+; 2 of the 187 grade A− or better on hazard risk nationally.
The Hazard risk grade: FEMA’s expected yearly loss to buildings from natural hazards, where residents live (National Risk Index). How grades work
#1A
#2Tuskegee
Macon County · 8,644 peopleHazard risk grade, better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #136 of 187 in AL
#3Auburn
Lee County · 85,113 peopleHazard risk grade, better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #26 of 187 in AL
All 187 towns
Hazard risk grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
187 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
5Ladoniaunincorporated, Russell County · 3,346 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #86 of 187
6Center PointJefferson County · 15,538 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #116 of 187
9Brook Highlandunincorporated, Shelby County · 8,146 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #16 of 187
18Harvestunincorporated, Madison County · 5,955 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #8 of 187
19Holtunincorporated, Tuscaloosa County · 3,629 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #120 of 187
20Grayson Valleyunincorporated, Jefferson County · 6,077 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #113 of 187
26Cottondaleunincorporated, Tuscaloosa County · 2,632 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #77 of 187
33Pine Levelunincorporated, Autauga County · 4,170 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #45 of 187
34McCallaunincorporated, Jefferson County · 13,253 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #78 of 187
35West End-Cobb Townunincorporated, Calhoun County · 3,453 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #100 of 187
36Meadowbrookunincorporated, Shelby County · 9,117 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #9 of 187
43Huguleyunincorporated, Chambers County · 2,577 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #101 of 187
50Highland Lakesunincorporated, Shelby County · 5,866 peopleC+better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #18 of 187
57TuscaloosaTuscaloosa County · 114,316 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #143 of 187
58MontgomeryMontgomery County · 195,300 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #152 of 187
61Hazel Greenunincorporated, Madison County · 3,940 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #5 of 187
62Forestdaleunincorporated, Jefferson County · 9,742 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #125 of 187
69Union SpringsBullock County · 3,091 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #187 of 187
71Mountain BrookJefferson County · 21,661 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #6 of 187
74Indian Springs VillageShelby County · 2,553 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #7 of 187
82Alexander CityTallapoosa County · 14,515 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #160 of 187
83Underwood-Petersvilleunincorporated, Lauderdale County · 3,100 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #24 of 187
84Emerald Mountainunincorporated, Elmore County · 3,535 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #14 of 187
85BirminghamJefferson County · 195,893 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #164 of 187
86Redlandunincorporated, Elmore County · 4,982 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #17 of 187
88Moores Millunincorporated, Madison County · 6,378 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #38 of 187
95Pleasant GroveJefferson County · 9,346 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #111 of 187
98Meridianvilleunincorporated, Madison County · 11,150 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #13 of 187
108Remlapunincorporated, Blount County · 2,761 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #60 of 187
110Saksunincorporated, Calhoun County · 10,681 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #84 of 187
111Vestavia HillsJefferson County · 38,306 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #10 of 187
112NorthportTuscaloosa County · 31,648 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #103 of 187
117Eagle Pointunincorporated, Shelby County · 3,110 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 187
128Mount Oliveunincorporated, Jefferson County · 3,567 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #47 of 187
129Choccoloccounincorporated, Calhoun County · 2,620 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #54 of 187
130Alexandriaunincorporated, Calhoun County · 3,475 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #55 of 187
133GuntersvilleMarshall County · 9,394 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #108 of 187
135Holtvilleunincorporated, Elmore County · 5,158 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #104 of 187
151ChildersburgTalladega County · 4,571 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #137 of 187
159Owens Cross RoadsMadison County · 3,334 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #34 of 187
164Theodoreunincorporated, Mobile County · 4,964 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #157 of 187
166Tillmans Cornerunincorporated, Mobile County · 17,677 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #148 of 187
174Stapletonunincorporated, Baldwin County · 3,009 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #42 of 187
177Grand Bayunincorporated, Mobile County · 3,553 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #88 of 187
186Bon Secourunincorporated, Baldwin County · 2,789 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #68 of 187
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Which Alabama town has the lowest natural-hazard risk?
Opelika (Lee County) ranks first on hazard risk among 187 towns, with an A; Tuskegee and Auburn follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Hazard risk grade: FEMA’s expected yearly loss to buildings from natural hazards, where residents live (National Risk Index). 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 hazard risk grade (187 in Alabama). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Alabama page.
Go deeper
All Alabama rankings →More Alabama lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
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