At a Glance
Median Income
$70,927
$36,427 per capita
Home Value
$198,300
Zillow: $254,834
Median Rent
$939/mo
21.9% of income on rent
Violent Crime
331/100K
5,786/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
24.4%
90.8% high school+
Unemployment
1.5%
10.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
35.7%
14.3% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
61°F
301 sunny days/yr
How Muscle Shoals Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Muscle Shoals's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Muscle Shoals a Good Place to Live?
B
3.3 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Muscle Shoals residents earn a median household income of $70,927 , which is 6% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $36,427. The unemployment rate stands at 1.5% (58% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 10.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,621 business establishments, including 115 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Muscle Shoals is $198,300 , 30% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $254,834. Median rent is $939/month, with 21.9% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 88.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1986.
Safety & Crime
Muscle Shoals reports 331 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 13% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 5,786/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
24.4% of adults in Muscle Shoals hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(28% below the national average).
90.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.1/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Muscle Shoals has an average annual temperature of 61°F (16°C).
Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 58.0 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.
Data Overview
People
Population16,670
Median Age37.2 yrs
Density988/mi²
Male / Female47% / 53%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans8.6%
Economy
A
Median Income$70,927
Per Capita$36,427
Unemployment1.5%
Poverty10.7%
County GDP$3,559M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,116
Housing
A+
Home Value$198,300
Rent$939
Ownership68.8%
Zillow$254,834
Housing Units6,976
Rent Burden21.9%
Crime
F
Violent331/100K
Property5,786/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault184/100K
Burglary1,016/100K
Health
Obesity35.7%
Diabetes11.1%
Smoking14.3%
Heart Disease5.5%
Premature Death12,370/100K
Climate
Avg Temp61°F
Sunny Days301/yr
Rain58.0 in/yr
AQI41 (Good)
Elevation525 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+24.4%
High School+90.8%
Graduate+7.0%
School Score5.1/10
Community
2024 VoteR 73% / D 26%
Commute21 min
Broadband88.1%
Internet Speed46 Mbps
EV Stations5
Libraries5
Did You Know?
Muscle Shoals was founded in 1923.
The median home in Muscle Shoals was built in 1986.
The nearest airport is Northwest Alabama Regional (1 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.449 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
12.9% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
There are 115 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 13 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.