What are the schools like in Calera, AL?

Calera is served primarily by Shelby County. The district operates 16 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 9 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.1:1.

What is the median household income in Calera?

The median household income in Calera, AL is $73,775 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.0%.

What is the weather like in Calera, AL?

Calera has an average high temperature of 55.7°F in January and 91.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 57.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.5 inches.

Calera, AL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Calera, AL affordable or expensive?

Calera's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Calera is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $185,400 and the median rent is $1,561 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Calera, AL?

Calera has a violent crime rate of 234.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1328.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Calera, AL a Good Place to Live?

Calera is a small city of 16,644 in Alabama, with a median household income of $73,775 and a 1.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Calera stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Calera is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Calera city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.6

Calera's overall cost of living index is 92.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Calera costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Calera, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$185,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,561	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	80.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$73,775	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Calera's violent crime rate is 234.7 per 100,000 residents — 38% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

234.7 /100k

Property Crime

1328.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Calera is served primarily by Shelby County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Calera, AL	National Avg
School District	Shelby County	—
Elementary Schools	16	—
Middle Schools	7	—
High Schools	9	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	36.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Calera sees average highs of 55.7°F in January and 91.1°F in July, with 57.9 inches of annual precipitation and 0.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Calera, AL
Average High — January	55.7°F
Average High — July	91.1°F
Annual Precipitation	57.9"
Annual Snowfall	0.5"

Demographics

Metric	Calera, AL	National Avg
Population	16,644	—
Median Age	33.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	32.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	61.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	28.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	27.5%	22.2%
65 and over	9.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Montevallo, AL 6 mi Alabaster, AL 8 mi Wilton, AL 8 mi Columbiana, AL 9 mi Shelby, AL 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Calera

Calera, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

35040

Calera vs Other Cities

Calera, AL vs Montevallo, AL Calera, AL vs Alabaster, AL Calera, AL vs Wilton, AL Calera, AL vs Columbiana, AL Calera, AL vs Shelby, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Calera, AL affordable or expensive?

Calera's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Calera roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $185,400 and median rent is $1,561/month.

What is the crime rate in Calera, AL?

Calera's violent crime rate is 234.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1328.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Calera?

Public schools in Calera are operated by Shelby County. The district has 16 elementary, 7 middle, and 9 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1. 36.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Calera, AL a good place to live?

Calera, AL has a population of 16,644, a median household income of $73,775, and an unemployment rate of 1.0%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Calera?

Calera averages 55.7°F in January and 91.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.9 inches with about 0.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Calera?

Calera, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 35040.

What is the population of Calera?

The population of Calera, Alabama is 16,644 with a median age of 33.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Calera?

Key numbers for living in Calera: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $185,400, median household income $73,775, crime index 62 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Calera side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.