McCalla is a small city of 14,509 in Alabama, with a median household income of $85,234
and a 3.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
McCalla stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether McCalla is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All McCalla 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
McCalla's overall cost of living index is 92.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in McCalla costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
McCalla, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$236,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,529
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
92.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$85,234
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
McCalla's violent crime rate is 635.9 per 100,000 residents
— 67% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
635.9 /100k
Property Crime
2558.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
McCalla is served primarily by Jefferson County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.4:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
McCalla, AL
National Avg
School District
Jefferson County
—
Elementary Schools
30
—
Middle Schools
11
—
High Schools
13
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
31.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
McCalla sees average highs of 55.7°F in January
and 91.8°F in July,
with 58.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.2 inches of snow per year.
McCalla's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes McCalla roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $236,300 and median rent is $1,529/month.
McCalla's violent crime rate is 635.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2558.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in McCalla are operated by Jefferson County.
The district has 30 elementary, 11 middle, and 13 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.4:1. 31.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
McCalla, AL has a population of 14,509, a median household income of $85,234, and an unemployment rate of 3.5%.
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.
McCalla averages 55.7°F in January and 91.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.4 inches
with about 1.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
McCalla, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 35111.
The population of McCalla, Alabama is 14,509 with a median age of 40.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in McCalla: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $236,300, median household income $85,234, crime index 149 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare McCalla side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
