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Gardendale, Alabama Retirement Guide
established retirement community
72
Retirement Score
Gardendale, Alabama at a Glance
- Median Home Price
- $226,600
- State Income Tax
- State income tax; Social Security and defined-benefit pensions fully exempt.
- Avg January Low
- 37.1°F
- Cost of Living Index
- 88 (US avg = 100)
- Best For
- established retirement community
- RetireCityIQ Score
- 72 / 100
Retirement Data
Affordability
Cost of Living Index
88 (U.S. avg = 100)High confidence
BEA Regional Price Parities · Updated May 2026
Median Home Price
$226,600High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Median Monthly Rent
$1,201High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Taxes
Retirement Tax Score
60 / 100High confidence
Tax Foundation · Updated June 2026
Tax Details
State income tax; Social Security and defined-benefit pensions fully exempt.High confidence
Tax Foundation · Updated June 2026
Retiree Readiness (Sprint 2)
Care Access Score (proxy)
100 / 100High confidence
RetireCityIQ proxy model · Updated June 2026
Aging-in-Place Score (proxy)
37.4 / 100High confidence
RetireCityIQ proxy model · Updated June 2026
Healthcare
Healthcare Access Score
100 / 100High confidence
CMS Hospital General Information + RetireCityIQ nearest-hospital radius model · Updated June 2026
Climate
Avg July High
90.3°FHigh confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated June 2026
Avg January Low
37.1°FHigh confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated June 2026
Annual Precipitation
56.3"High confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated June 2026
Sunny Days / Year
304 daysHigh confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated June 2026
Safety
Safety Score
88.5 / 100High confidence
FBI Crime Data Explorer · Updated June 2026
Walkability
Walk Score (proxy)
4.4 / 100High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year (B08301) · Updated June 2026
Transit Score (proxy)
0.1 / 100High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year (B08301) · Updated June 2026
Demographics
Population
16,051High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Median Age
39.9High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Age 65+
19.6%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Median Household Income
$78,719High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Community Profile
Owner-Occupied Housing
81.4%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Veterans
7.6%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Bachelor's Degree+
32.1%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Poverty Rate
6.0%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Diversity
White
77.9%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Black
13.1%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Hispanic/Latino
1.1%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Asian
0.3%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
10-Year Housing Stress Test (Estimate)
Estimate monthly homeowner carrying cost in Gardendale using median home price and adjustable assumptions. Stress case applies +10% property tax, +20% insurance, +10% maintenance.
Estimated monthly carrying cost
$491
Stress-case monthly carrying cost
$551
Median home price used: $226,600
Median rent reference: $1,201 / month
Estimate includes property tax, insurance, maintenance reserve, and HOA. It excludes mortgage, utilities, and one-time transaction costs.