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Living in
McCalla.
McCalla is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, AL. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in McCalla
Living in McCalla means settling into a quieter, family-oriented community on the edges of metro Birmingham where you can actually afford a home—median values hover around $279,900—without feeling completely isolated from job opportunities and urban amenities. The area sits at an interesting crossroads between rural and suburban, with about 58% of residents in genuinely rural pockets and the rest in more developed zones, so your experience depends heavily on which pocket you choose; your commute to Birmingham jobs typically runs about 26.5 minutes, which is manageable for people working in the city. Summers are hot and humid as you'd expect in central Alabama, and winters are mild, so you're trading brutal cold for the need to run AC hard several months a year; it's also Appalachian foothills country, sitting at the geographic tail end of the Appalachian Mountains, which adds character and some elevation variation to the landscape.
McCalla at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.3%
Foreign-Born
3.2%
Broadband Internet
98.0%
of households
Median household income
Demographics3.2% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in McCalla: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In McCalla, the largest foreign-born group is from India (48.0%), and 4.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.9%
of residents
65 and Older
20.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.9%
of households
Married Couples
55.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.55
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 76% above AL average
Rent, home values, and income in McCalla
In McCalla, rent runs 76% above the AL average, and home values are 33% above the AL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
32.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
8.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,549
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
90.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2003
median year built
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for AL
Unemployment in McCalla and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Jefferson County, which includes McCalla, is close to the AL average.
Unemployment rate
McCalla: Jefferson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Jefferson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
McCalla is about 2% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What McCalla Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Birmingham-Hoover, AL metro area
Commute27.1 min avg
How McCalla residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In McCalla, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 58% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 21 mi
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
- 150 mi
Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Major hub51.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 14% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, which covers McCalla, runs 14% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
376.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,533.1
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 28 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Jefferson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Jefferson County, which includes McCalla, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 28 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3,000 |
| 2023 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5.0M |
| 2022 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 25 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2020 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Jefferson County, county-wide
McCalla is about 2% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jefferson County, which includes McCalla, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
52
Good Days
159
per year
Moderate Days
204
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Jefferson County, county-wide
McCalla is about 2% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate91°F summers, 36°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
McCalla has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and mild winters (avg low 36°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/51°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/69°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
77°/53°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
58°/36°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
58.4"
Annual Snowfall
1.2"
Hot Days/Year
80
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
57
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
113
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 34°F | 5.40" |
| Feb | 61°F | 37°F | 5.38" |
| Mar | 68°F | 43°F | 5.42" |
| Apr | 76°F | 50°F | 5.11" |
| May | 83°F | 59°F | 4.55" |
| Jun | 89°F | 67°F | 4.53" |
| Jul | 92°F | 71°F | 4.76" |
| Aug | 92°F | 70°F | 3.98" |
| Sep | 87°F | 64°F | 3.45" |
| Oct | 77°F | 53°F | 3.26" |
| Nov | 66°F | 42°F | 4.45" |
| Dec | 58°F | 37°F | 5.20" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in McCalla
Uninsured
7.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside McCalla's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Medical West, An Affiliate of UAB Health System
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.5 mi away · Bessemer
Shelby Baptist Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.3 mi away · Alabaster
Princeton Baptist Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.3 mi away · Birmingham
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education19.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in McCalla
McCalla's student/teacher ratio is 19.5:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 34.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
34.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near McCalla (within 15 miles)
Lawson State Community College
10.1 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 2,900 students · in-state tuition $5,215 · 26% graduate · median earnings $36,457 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 442 students · in-state tuition $13,820 · 42% graduate · median earnings $44,255 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, 16 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for McCalla
McCalla has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument (16 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
16 mi awayFreedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
67 mi awaySelma To Montgomery National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
76 mi awayHorseshoe Bend National Military Park
National Military Park
78 mi awayTuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
National Historic Site
99 mi awayTuskegee Institute National Historic Site
National Historic Site
99 mi awayCities Near McCalla
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to McCalla?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
McCalla FAQ
Is McCalla, Alabama affordable?⌄
McCalla's median rent is $1,777/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $87,468/year. Median home value is $279,900.
Is McCalla, Alabama safe?⌄
McCalla is policed by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 376 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1533 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in McCalla, Alabama?⌄
Jefferson County, which includes McCalla, has an unemployment rate of 2.9%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in McCalla, Alabama?⌄
The cost of living in McCalla is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,777/month and median household income is $87,468/year. The median home value is $279,900. About 33% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in McCalla, Alabama?⌄
The average commute in McCalla is 27 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from