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Muscle Shoals, AL

Photo: Wikipedia

Muscle Shoals, AL

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 39
Population16,670
Foreign Born1.6%
Population Density988people per mi²
Median Age37.2 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
GrowingSince 2010, this city's population has grown with relatively minor shifts in racial composition.
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

77/100

23% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Muscle Shoals, Alabama

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $15k$28k
Comfortable $39k$57k
Luxury $109k+$170k+
Elite (Top 5%) $129k+$200k+
Affordability Ratio

125%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A+
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean92%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
5
Negative
1

Groceries

4 within 10 miles

0.4mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

1.8mi

Airport

Northwest Alabama Regional Airport

2.7mi

Post Office

USPS — Florence, AL

4mi

Critical Amenities

Golf3Nearest 2.4 mi
Camping20Nearest 19.7 mi
Marina7Nearest 2.8 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 100.8 mi
Gun Range2Nearest 1.1 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C-
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$71k+0.6%
6% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$300k
54% below US avg
College Educated
24.4%
30% below US avg
WFH
13.7%
4% below US avg
Homeownership
68.8%
5% above US avg
Median Home
$198k
30% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
B-
Safe

Generally safer than 61% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
20.1
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−27.5%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−7.5%
Homicide
0.06 / 1k Residents33% below state avg
Robbery
0.06 / 1k Residents81% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
1.70 / 1k Residents39% below state avg

Property Crime

5yr−47.5%
Burglary
0.74 / 1k Residents66% below state avg
Larceny-Theft
16.24 / 1k Residents50% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.02 / 1k Residents36% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+33Solidly Conservative

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

Presidential Voting Trends for Muscle Shoals, 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 Season251 days330 frost-free
Annual Rainfall56.8"
Elevation499 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-
Good852 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak988/sq mi
Fallout Danger
C+
Weak4 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 641 mi · coast 280 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$34.9M/yrfor the county

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T19:01:00.000Z

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