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Calera, AL

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Calera, AL

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 57
Population17,188
Foreign Born3.2%
Population Density707people per mi²
Median Age32.3 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
ChangingSince 2010, this city has seen significant changes in racial and ethnic composition in a short time.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

108/100

8% above national average

A-

The Real Cost of Living in Calera, Alabama

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $24k$45k
Comfortable $42k$61k
Luxury $104k+$161k+
Elite (Top 5%) $122k+$190k+
Affordability Ratio

135%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A+
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean91%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
6
Positive
15
Poor
1
Negative
0

Groceries

2 within 10 miles

3mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

10.9mi

Airport

Shelby County Airport

5.5mi

Post Office

USPS — Hoover, AL

18.9mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

Nearest private club or country club.

Golf1Nearest 1 mi
Camping20Nearest 16.2 mi
Marina0Nearest 13.1 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 112 mi
Gun Range3Nearest 5 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
B-
Good

An upper-middle-class area. Household wealth, education levels, and homeownership run ahead of national benchmarks.

Median HHI
$82k+11.7%
10% above US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$372k
43% below US avg
College Educated
37.1%
6% above US avg
WFH
12.8%
10% below US avg
Homeownership
79.8%
22% above US avg
Median Home
$214k
24% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
A-
Very Safe

Lower crime rates than 75% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
15.2
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
+15.3%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+14.5%
Homicide
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Robbery
0.16 / 1k Residents48% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
1.94 / 1k Residents30% below state avg

Property Crime

5yr+16.0%
Burglary
0.68 / 1k Residents68% below state avg
Larceny-Theft
10.61 / 1k Residents2% below state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.31 / 1k Residents18% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+20Solidly Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Calera, Alabama
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%200020042008

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B-
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C+
Weak9.8% of income
Property Rights
D
WeakIJ Grade D
Firearm Rights
A-
GreatFPC Grade A-
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Importer (45% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
F
ProhibitedIllegal
Gambling Laws
F
ProhibitedTribal · Poker · Betting
Marijuana Laws
C+
LimitedMedical only

Homesteading

Growing Season258 days339 frost-free
Annual Rainfall60.9"
Elevation509 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
B-
Defensible

Workable tactical position. Some exposure to population density or targets, but generally defensible in a crisis.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A-
Good877 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak707/sq mi
Fallout Danger
A
Good5 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 725 mi · coast 182 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$105.8M/yrfor the county

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T18:45:38.000Z

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