Mountain Brook is a small city of 22,259 in Alabama, with a median household income of $167,007
and a 0.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Mountain Brook stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Mountain Brook is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Mountain Brook 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
Mountain Brook's overall cost of living index is 92.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Mountain Brook costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Mountain Brook, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$803,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,521
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
89.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$167,007
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Mountain Brook's violent crime rate is 65.2 per 100,000 residents
— 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
65.2 /100k
Property Crime
772.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Mountain Brook is served primarily by Mountain Brook City.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Mountain Brook, AL
National Avg
School District
Mountain Brook City
—
Elementary Schools
4
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
85.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
99.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Mountain Brook sees average highs of 54.5°F in January
and 91.0°F in July,
with 58.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.4 inches of snow per year.
Mountain Brook's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Mountain Brook roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $803,000 and median rent is $1,521/month.
Mountain Brook's violent crime rate is 65.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 772.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Mountain Brook are operated by Mountain Brook City.
The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.5:1. 85.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Mountain Brook, AL has a population of 22,259, a median household income of $167,007, and an unemployment rate of 0.9%.
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.
Mountain Brook averages 54.5°F in January and 91.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.1 inches
with about 1.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Mountain Brook, AL is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 35223, 35213.
The population of Mountain Brook, Alabama is 22,259 with a median age of 41.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mountain Brook: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $803,000, median household income $167,007, crime index 25 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mountain Brook side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
