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Living in
Saraland.
About
Life in Saraland
This suburb north of Mobile is solidly middle-class and genuinely affordable—median home values around $217,600 and rents near $1,060 a month put it within reach for families and single professionals who'd struggle in pricier markets. The job market is stable with unemployment at 3.5%, and while the refinery and telecom center provide some employment, most residents commute into Mobile for work, averaging about 25 minutes on I-65 or U.S. 43—manageable but something to factor into your daily rhythm. The community skews family-oriented with roughly half of all households being married couples and over a third including children, so you'll find established neighborhoods, solid schools (the city broke away from the county system in 2008 to run its own district), and people who genuinely stay put rather than cycle through.
Saraland at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.1%
Foreign-Born
1.0%
Broadband Internet
79.3%
of households
Population Growth
+1.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.0% foreign-born, most often from Asia, n.e.c.
Who lives in Saraland: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Saraland, the largest foreign-born group is from Asia, n.e.c. (26.3%), and 0.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.9%
of residents
65 and Older
21.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.0%
of households
Married Couples
48.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.40
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 Saraland
Rent and home values here are close to the AL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
58.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
88.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$986
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
78.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1981
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $239,416 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts above AL average
Unemployment in Saraland
Unemployment in Mobile County, which includes Saraland, is 0.6 percentage points higher than the AL average.
Unemployment rate
Saraland: Mobile County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Mobile County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Saraland is about 4% of Mobile County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Saraland Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.9 min avg
How Saraland residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Saraland, most residents drive alone to work (89%), and 63% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
Mobile Regional Airport (MOB)
Regional airport · few flights335k 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 80% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Saraland runs 80% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
66.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,126.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Saraland Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Mobile County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Mobile County, which includes Saraland, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Hail | None reported |
| 2024 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 15 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2020 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $76.0M |
| 2019 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $209,000 |
| 2018 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $35,000 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Mobile County, county-wide
Saraland is about 4% of Mobile County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Mobile County, which includes Saraland, is typically good — 260 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
260
per year
Moderate Days
103
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Mobile County, county-wide
Saraland is about 4% of Mobile County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate90°F summers, 43°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Saraland has hot summers (avg high 90°F) and mild winters (avg low 43°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
78°/57°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
90°/72°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/58°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
68.9"
Annual Snowfall
0.2"
Hot Days/Year
77
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
21
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
123
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62°F | 41°F | 5.66" |
| Feb | 66°F | 44°F | 4.47" |
| Mar | 72°F | 50°F | 5.44" |
| Apr | 78°F | 56°F | 5.71" |
| May | 85°F | 64°F | 5.39" |
| Jun | 89°F | 71°F | 6.55" |
| Jul | 91°F | 73°F | 7.69" |
| Aug | 91°F | 73°F | 6.87" |
| Sep | 88°F | 69°F | 5.30" |
| Oct | 80°F | 58°F | 3.95" |
| Nov | 70°F | 48°F | 4.60" |
| Dec | 64°F | 43°F | 5.45" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Saraland
Uninsured
7.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Saraland's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
USA Health University Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.9 mi away · Mobile
Mobile Infirmary Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.7 mi away · Mobile
USA Health Children's & Women's Hospital
Childrens · ER available · 10.7 mi away · Mobile
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.
Education17.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Saraland
Saraland's student/teacher ratio is 17.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 25.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Saraland (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 8,879 students · in-state tuition $10,476 · 53% graduate · median earnings $53,069 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,307 students · in-state tuition $27,930 · 71% graduate · median earnings $48,418 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 782 students · in-state tuition $25,300 · 56% graduate · median earnings $58,881 (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: Gulf Islands National Seashore, 63 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Saraland
Saraland has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Gulf Islands National Seashore (63 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gulf Islands National Seashore
National Seashore
63 mi awayPublic Libraries in Saraland
Mobile Public - Saraland Branch Library
111 Saraland Loop, Mobile
Cities Near Saraland
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Saraland?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Saraland FAQ
Is Saraland, Alabama affordable?⌄
Saraland's median rent is $1,060/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $61,509/year. Median home value is $217,600.
Is Saraland, Alabama safe?⌄
Saraland's violent crime rate was 67 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1126 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Saraland, Alabama?⌄
Mobile County, which includes Saraland, has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Saraland, Alabama?⌄
The cost of living in Saraland is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,060/month and median household income is $61,509/year. The median home value is $217,600. About 59% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Saraland, Alabama?⌄
The average commute in Saraland is 26 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