Buyers and sellers of real estate, when asked what are the three most essential considerations about a property, will almost always answer “location, location, location”. While this answer is ironic at times, it is often quite precise, and this answer perhaps applies more to retirees than to any other demographic. Settling in after a working life and maybe raising a family demands the perfect location: a place where you can enjoy life with as little hassle as possible.

When people aged 65 and over decide where they want to live their golden years, they consider very specific factors, such as cost of living, government services, health facilities, weather and general climate, crime rate, outdoor recreation. , dining establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.

Stacker has compiled a list of the best counties to retire in Alabama using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, health care, recreation, and weather.

Location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their retirement years enjoying their favorite activities; however, it is a very unique decision based on a multitude of preferences and needs. Whether it’s bustling city centers or access to parks, affordable prices for homes, or cultural amenities like museums, retirees looking to settle into a permanent place are sure to find a private paradise in one of those Niche recommended counties because, at the end of the day, there is no place like home, no matter the location.

Read on to discover the best counties to retire in Alabama.

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# 25. Marshall County

– Population: 95,643
– Median value of the house: $ 128,800 (70% own)
– Median rent: $ 649 (30% of rent)
– Median household income: $ 45,983
– Top places to live: Guntersville (B +), Albertville (B), Arabe (B)

Langley rivers; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

# 24. Calhoun County

– Population: 114,618
– Median value of the house: $ 118,000 (70% owners)
– Median rent: $ 716 (30% of rent)
– Median household income: $ 47,255
– Best places to live: Oxford (A-), Alexandria (A-), Jacksonville (A-)

MPearsallArt // Wikimedia Commons

# 23. Morgan County

– Population: 119,213
– Median home value: $ 137,000 (73% owners)
– Median rent: $ 658 (27% of rent)
– Median household income: $ 52,156
– The best places to live: Hartselle (A-), Priceville (A-), Decatur (B +)

Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons

# 22. Butler County

– Population: 19,828
– Median value of the house: $ 95,900 (70% clean)
– Median rent: $ 620 (30% of rent)
– Median household income: $ 40,688
– Best places to live: Greenville (B), McKenzie (B-), Georgiana (C)

Michael Rivera // Wikimedia Commons

# 21. Dale County

– Population: 49,277
– Median value of the house: $ 112,000 (60% own)
– Median rent: $ 730 (40% of rent)
– Median household income: $ 47,214
– The best places to live: Newton (B), Daleville (B), Ozark (B-)

Prestinien // Wikimedia Commons

# 20. Etowah County

– Population: 102,748
– Median home value: $ 113,700 (73% of owners)
– Median rent: $ 669 (27% of rent)
– Median household income: $ 44,637
– Best places to live: Rainbow City (A-), Southside (B +), Glencoe (B +)

Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons

# 19. Conecuh County

– Population: 12,394
– Median home value: $ 81,000 (76% owners)
– Median rent: $ 536 (24% of rent)
– Median household income: $ 37,837
– Best places to live: Evergreen (C +), Repton (B), Castleberry (C-)

Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons

# 18. Marion County

– Population: 29,866
– Median home value: $ 92,800 (75% own)
– Median rent: $ 512 (25% of rent)
– Median household income: $ 35,930
– Best places to live: Hamilton (B-), Winfield (B), Bear Creek (B-)

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# 17. Walker County

– Population: 64 110
– Median home value: $ 104,300 (owns 77%)
– Median rent: $ 626 (rent 23%)
– Median household income: $ 43,629
– The best places to live: Jasper (B), Dora (B-), Sumiton (C)

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# 16. Geneva County

– Population: 26,417
– Median value of the house: $ 100,900 (72% of owners)
– Median rent: $ 625 (rent 28%)
– Median household income: $ 41,732
– Top places to live: Malvern (B), Geneva (B-), Slocomb (B)

Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons

# 15. Cherokee County

– Population: 25,903
– Median value of the house: $ 123,400 (77% of owners)
– Median rent: $ 620 (23% of rent)
– Median household income: $ 41,919
– Best places to live: Cedar Bluff (B), Center (C +), Sand Rock (C +)

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# 14. Madison County

– Population: 362,276
– Median home value: $ 186,100 (67% owners)
– Median rent: $ 857 (33% of rent)
– Median household income: $ 65,449
– Best places to live: Madison (A +), Huntsville (A), Meridianville (A)

Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

# 13. Randolph County

– Population: 22,647
– Median value of the house: $ 96,100 (77% are owners)
– Median rent: $ 620 (rent 23%)
– Median household income: $ 43,395
– Best places to live: Roanoke (B +), Woodland (B-), Wedowee (B-)

Carol M. Highsmith // Wikimedia Commons

# 12. Limestone County

– Population: 94,727
– Median value of the house: $ 158,800 (78% of owners)
– Median rent: $ 691 (22% of rent)
– Median household income: $ 59,686
– The best places to live: Athens (A), Elkmont (B), Lester (C +)

Myself – Nathon Morris // Wikimedia Commons

# 11. Lamar County

– Population: 13,885
– Median value of the house: $ 80,900 (76% of owners)
– Median rent: $ 425 (rent 24%)
– Median household income: $ 38,364
– Best places to live: Kennedy (B +), Millport (B), Beaverton (B)

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#ten. Colbert County

– Population: 54,771
– Median value of the house: $ 120,800 (72% of owners)
– Median rent: $ 697 (rent 28%)
– Median household income: $ 48,065
– Best places to live: Muscle Shoals (A), Tuscumbia (B +), Sheffield (B)

Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons

# 9. Coffee County

– Population: 51 662
– Median home value: $ 147,400 (66% owner)
– Median rent: $ 803 (34% of rent)
– Median household income: $ 55,637
– Best places to live: Enterprise (A-), New Brockton (B +), Elba (B-)

Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

# 8. Tallapoosa County

– Population: 40,541
– Median home value: $ 109,300 (75% owners)
– Median rent: $ 665 (25% of rent)
– Median household income: $ 45,828
– The best places to live: Tallassee (B), Alexander City (B-), New Site (B-)

Langley rivers; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

# 7. Shelby County

– Population: 213,432
– Median value of the house: $ 211,900 (81% of owners)
– Median rent: $ 1,047 (rent at 19%)
– Median household income: $ 77,799
– Best places to live: Indian Springs Village (A +), Meadowbrook (A +), Pelham (A +)

Langley rivers; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

# 6. Henri County

– Population: 17,133
– Median value of the house: $ 118,800 (83% of owners)
– Median rent: $ 627 (17% of rent)
– Median household income: $ 50,017
– Top places to live: Headland (B +), Haleburg (B), Abbeville (B-)

Carol M. Highsmith / Library of Congress // Wikimedia Commons

# 5. Houston County

– Population: 104,702
– Median home value: $ 137,600 (66% owner)
– Median rent: $ 754 (34% of rent)
– Median household income: $ 47,580
– Best places to live: Taylor (B +), Rehobeth (B +), Dothan (B)

RuralSWAlabama (Billy Milstead) // Wikimedia Commons

# 4. Choctaw County

– Population: 12,925
– Median home value: $ 74,100 (81% of owners)
– Median rent: $ 525 (rent 19%)
– Median household income: $ 35,892
– Best places to live: Butler (B-), Silas (B-), Pennington (C)

Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons

# 3. Covington County

– Population: 37,200
– Median home value: $ 97,600 (74% own)
– Median rent: $ 612 (rent 26%)
– Median household income: $ 42,189
– The best places to live: Andalusia (B), Opp (B-), Heath (B)

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# 2. Baldwin County

– Population: 212,830
– Median value of the house: $ 197,900 (75% of owners)
– Median rent: $ 1,020 (25% of rent)
– Median household income: $ 58,320
– Best places to live: Fairhope (A +), Daphne (A), Spanish Fort (A)

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# 1. Lauderdale County

– Population: 92,556
– Median value of the house: $ 145,000 (68% of owners)
– Median rent: $ 663 (32% of rent)
– Median household income: $ 48,094
– The best places to live: Florence (A), Killen (B +), St. Florian (B +)