BY SARAH STEPHENS – OWNER, EDITOR
In September, Lending Tree conducted a state survey of more than 100 cities in Alabama to determine the top places to live, based on family-friendly factors.
In the information released, Lending Tree said “To help out, researchers at LendingTree surveyed more than 100 cities in Alabama for family-friendly factors. We wanted to identify the places where parents can achieve higher incomes, secure affordable housing and still expect a good education for their kids.”
While no city from Autauga or Elmore County made the top 10, Millbrook scored the highest coming in 23rd, while Prattville came in at 27th.
Millbrook had a final overall score of 65.8, a median income of $70,833; median housing cost per month of $923; a home ownership rate of families with children at 65.8 percent; 35.1 percent of homeowners had children; the unemployment rate for 25-44 year-olds was two percent; percentage of 16-19 year-olds not enrolled in school was 2.3 percent; and average travel time to work was 23.9 minutes.
Prattville had a final overall score of 65.3, a median income of $73,550; median housing cost per month of $950; a home ownership rate of families with children at 63.5 percent; 36.5 percent of homeowners had children; the unemployment rate for 25-44 year-olds was 4.2 percent; percentage of 16-19 year-olds not enrolled in school was 3.3 percent; and average travel time to work was 22.1 percent.
The only other city in our area included in the survey was Wetumpka, which came in 66th.
Wetumpka had a final overall score of 59.7 with a median income of $48,774; median housing cost per month of $843; a home ownership rate of families with children at 48.3 percent; 38.9 percent of homeowners had children; the unemployment rate for 25-44 year-olds was 5.4 percent; percentage of 16-19 year-olds not enrolled in school was 1.5 percent; and average travel time to work was 26.3 minutes.
Mountain Brook was considered the best place to raise a family in Alabama, with a final score of 74.6 for affordability and family-friendliness. Vestavia Hills and Homewood were the second and third best places in the analysis for families in Alabama, with respective final scores of 73.4 and 73.3. All three of these top-ranked towns are suburbs of Birmingham.
According to the survey, the opposite end of the spectrum was Anniston, which the survey found to be the most challenging place for young families in Alabama with a score of 44.3.
Bessemer and Lanett rounded out the three least favorable spots in this state to raise families, scoring 46.6 and 49.6, respectively.
To see the full list, visit https://www.lendingtree.com/home/mortgage/the-best-places-for-young-families-in-alabama/
