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Living in
Muscle Shoals.
About
Life in Muscle Shoals
Living in Muscle Shoals means settling into a genuinely tight-knit community of about 16,000 people where you're not just another face—you'll actually know your neighbors and run into people at the local coffee shop. Yes, there's a music history here that still matters—FAME Studios and the original Muscle Shoals Sound Studio are real working spaces where people still record, and the W.C. Handy Music Festival brings legitimate cultural events to the area each year—but what actually keeps people here is that the community has genuine roots in something larger than tourism: it's a place where creative collaboration and cross-cultural musical exchange happened organically, and that open-minded spirit still lingers in how locals treat each other.
Muscle Shoals at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.8%
Foreign-Born
2.0%
Broadband Internet
88.2%
of households
Population Growth
+8.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Muscle Shoals: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Muscle Shoals, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (61.3%), and 1.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.5%
of residents
65 and Older
17.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.2%
of households
Married Couples
44.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.43
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 about average for AL
Rent, home values, and income in Muscle Shoals
Rent and home values here are close to the AL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
24.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
84.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$899
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
67.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1990
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $260,476 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for AL
Unemployment in Muscle Shoals
Unemployment in Colbert County, which includes Muscle Shoals, is close to the AL average.
Unemployment rate
Muscle Shoals: Colbert County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Colbert County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Muscle Shoals Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.7 min avg
How Muscle Shoals residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Muscle Shoals, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 76% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 2 mi
Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL)
Regional airport · few flights9,164 passengers boarded in 2025
- 110 mi
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Major hub12.5M 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 35% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Muscle Shoals runs 35% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
215
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,815.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Muscle Shoals Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 37 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
80.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Colbert County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Colbert County, which includes Muscle Shoals, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 37 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.3M |
| 2024 | 53 | Thunderstorm Wind | $191,700 |
| 2023 | 66 | Thunderstorm Wind | $17.7M |
| 2022 | 43 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5.1M |
| 2021 | 42 | Thunderstorm Wind | $44,100 |
| 2020 | 38 | Thunderstorm Wind | $23,600 |
| 2019 | 39 | Thunderstorm Wind | $26,300 |
| 2018 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2,100 |
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
Colbert County, county-wide
Air Quality30 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lawrence County, AL (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 23 miles from Muscle Shoals) is typically good — 89 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
30
Good Days
89
per year
Moderate Days
8
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Lawrence County, AL (23 mi away)
Climate89°F summers, 31°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Muscle Shoals has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and cold winters (avg low 31°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
74°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
53°/31°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
58.0"
Annual Snowfall
0.6"
Hot Days/Year
58
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
67
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
119
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51°F | 29°F | 5.25" |
| Feb | 55°F | 32°F | 5.27" |
| Mar | 64°F | 40°F | 5.36" |
| Apr | 73°F | 48°F | 5.42" |
| May | 80°F | 57°F | 4.73" |
| Jun | 87°F | 66°F | 5.17" |
| Jul | 90°F | 69°F | 4.76" |
| Aug | 90°F | 68°F | 3.91" |
| Sep | 85°F | 62°F | 4.04" |
| Oct | 75°F | 49°F | 3.85" |
| Nov | 63°F | 38°F | 4.09" |
| Dec | 54°F | 32°F | 6.18" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Muscle Shoals
Muscle Shoals has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.6%
of residents
North Alabama Shoals Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Helen Keller Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Sheffield
North Alabama Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.3 mi away · Florence
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.
Education17.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Muscle Shoals
Muscle Shoals's student/teacher ratio is 17.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 24.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Muscle Shoals (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 5,811 students · in-state tuition $12,480 · 56% graduate · median earnings $50,557 (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: Shiloh National Military Park, 49 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Muscle Shoals
Muscle Shoals has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Shiloh National Military Park (49 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Shiloh National Military Park
National Military Park
49 mi awayBrices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site
National Battlefield Site
64 mi awayNatchez Trace National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
68 mi awayTupelo National Battlefield
National Battlefield
71 mi awayBirmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
97 mi awayPublic Libraries in Muscle Shoals
Muscle Shoals Public Library
1918 East Avalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals
Cities Near Muscle Shoals
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Muscle Shoals?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Muscle Shoals FAQ
Is Muscle Shoals, Alabama affordable?⌄
Muscle Shoals's median rent is $1,029/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $75,894/year. Median home value is $199,700.
Is Muscle Shoals, Alabama safe?⌄
Muscle Shoals's violent crime rate was 215 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1816 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Muscle Shoals, Alabama?⌄
Colbert County, which includes Muscle Shoals, has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Muscle Shoals, Alabama?⌄
The cost of living in Muscle Shoals is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,029/month and median household income is $75,894/year. The median home value is $199,700. About 25% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Muscle Shoals, Alabama?⌄
The average commute in Muscle Shoals is 22 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