B+

Meridianville, AL

Source:

Affordability Score: 77/100

Population: 6,406 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Meridianville, AL aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 6,406 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B+ (77/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $102,880, median home value of $295,900, median rent of $1,634 per month, and 44.6% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,310 per month (studio $1,030, 1BR $1,136, 3BR $1,690, 4BR $2,109). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $7,073 per year, consuming 7% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Meridianville, AL include income, education, rent, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 3.6% and poverty 5.5% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income A-
$102,880
Median household income
Education B+
44.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B
2.9x
Home value $295,900 vs income
Commute C-
25 min
Average commute time
Rent A
$1,310/mo
2BR fair market rent (15% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare A-
$7,073/yr
Center-based infant care (7% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$102,880
▲ 66% vs national
Per Capita Income
$45,922
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Poverty Rate
5.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
$295,900
▲ 8% vs national
Median Rent
$1,634/mo
Owner Occupied
90.7%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,310/mo
▲ 9% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,030
1BR
$1,136
2BR
$1,310
3BR
$1,690
4BR
$2,109

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
44.6%
▲ 15 ppt vs national
High School+
67.4%
Median Age
39.1
Avg. Commute
25 min
▼ 1 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$7,073/yr
7% of income
Toddler (Center)
$6,997/yr
Preschool (Center)
$6,607/yr
School-Age (Center)
$5,870/yr

What This Means

Meridianville, AL receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (77/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 6,406. This area performs well in income and education and rent and childcare. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Meridianville ZIP Codes
View all 1 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
View ZIPs →

What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Meridianville, AL affordable?
Meridianville, AL receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (77/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $102,880. Median home value is $295,900.
What is the cost of living in Meridianville?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,634/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,310/mo. Infant childcare $7,073/yr. Median home value $295,900.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →