Steele is a small town of 1,515 in Alabama, with a median household income of $53,625
and a 5.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Steele stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Steele is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Steele 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
Steele's overall cost of living index is 92.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Steele costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Steele, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$94,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,306
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
83.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$53,625
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Steele's violent crime rate is 240.2 per 100,000 residents
— 37% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
240.2 /100k
Property Crime
1079.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Steele is served primarily by St Clair County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.9:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Steele, AL
National Avg
School District
St Clair County
—
Elementary Schools
7
—
Middle Schools
5
—
High Schools
5
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
7.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
76.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Steele sees average highs of 52.8°F in January
and 90.9°F in July,
with 57.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.7 inches of snow per year.
Steele's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Steele roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $94,600 and median rent is $1,306/month.
Steele's violent crime rate is 240.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1079.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Steele are operated by St Clair County.
The district has 7 elementary, 5 middle, and 5 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.9:1. 7.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Steele, AL has a population of 1,515, a median household income of $53,625, and an unemployment rate of 5.9%.
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.
Steele averages 52.8°F in January and 90.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.8 inches
with about 1.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Steele, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 35987.
The population of Steele, Alabama is 1,515 with a median age of 32.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Steele: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $94,600, median household income $53,625, crime index 58 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Steele side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.