Alabama · RAL Market Report

Best places to open an assisted living home in Alabama

Name: Alabama assisted living market data
Creator: RAL Market Scout

The top markets for residential assisted living in Alabama, ranked by demand versus supply — plus the cities where the homes are.

Updated July 2026

The top markets for assisted living in Alabama right now are Elmore, Lee, Cullman counties — ranked by RAL Market Scout's opportunity score, which weighs 75+ demand and projected senior growth against current bed supply. Statewide there are 202 licensed assisted living homes serving 361,910 residents aged 75+, at a median cost of about $4,425/mo.

Licensed homes

202

state roster

Population 75+

361,910

ACS

Median AL cost

$4,425/mo

below the national median

Bed supply

26.8/1k

tight supply

Top 10 markets for assisted living in Alabama

RAL Market Scout's opportunity score blends 75+ demand and projected senior growth against current bed supply — a saturated market is scored down even when demand is high. Higher means more room for a new small home.

Elmore County — opportunity 9.3/10 (Strong); 5,777 seniors 75+, growing 24.9%, with 4 licensed homes.
Lee County — opportunity 9.3/10 (Strong); 9,117 seniors 75+, growing 29.8%, with 3 licensed homes.
Cullman County — opportunity 9.2/10 (Strong); 7,185 seniors 75+, growing 16.7%, with 3 licensed homes.
Marshall County — opportunity 9.2/10 (Strong); 6,918 seniors 75+, growing 3.8%, with 4 licensed homes.
St. Clair County — opportunity 9.1/10 (Strong); 6,663 seniors 75+, growing 19.7%, with 3 licensed homes.
Baldwin County — opportunity 9.1/10 (Strong); 21,462 seniors 75+, growing 27.8%, with 9 licensed homes.
Tuscaloosa County — opportunity 9.0/10 (Strong); 12,354 seniors 75+, growing 18.1%, with 11 licensed homes.
Calhoun County — opportunity 9.0/10 (Strong); 8,245 seniors 75+, growing 2.9%, with 5 licensed homes.
Shelby County — opportunity 9.0/10 (Strong); 15,256 seniors 75+, growing 26.9%, with 9 licensed homes.
Lauderdale County — opportunity 8.9/10 (Strong); 8,261 seniors 75+, growing 6.3%, with 6 licensed homes.

All Alabama counties by market opportunity

County	Pop 75+	Demand	Homes	Market	Band
Elmore	5,777	5.3	4	9.3	Strong
Lee	9,117	5.9	3	9.3	Strong
Cullman	7,185	5.8	3	9.2	Strong
Marshall	6,918	3.9	4	9.2	Strong
St. Clair	6,663	6.8	3	9.1	Strong
Baldwin	21,462	7.1	9	9.1	Strong
Tuscaloosa	12,354	6.4	11	9.0	Strong
Calhoun	8,245	4.3	5	9.0	Strong
Shelby	15,256	6.8	9	9.0	Strong
Lauderdale	8,261	4.9	6	8.9	Strong
Limestone	6,770	5.3	4	8.9	Strong
Houston	8,289	5.3	6	8.9	Strong
Mobile	28,111	4.9	12	8.9	Strong
Etowah	7,914	4.3	6	8.9	Strong
DeKalb	5,020	3.7	3	8.8	Strong
Talladega	6,102	4.9	3	8.8	Strong
Madison	25,915	6.5	13	8.8	Strong
Jefferson	43,506	4.5	17	8.8	Strong
Walker	5,207	3.9	4	8.7	Strong
Montgomery	14,452	4.7	9	8.7	Strong
Morgan	9,091	4.6	8	8.6	Strong
Coffee	3,811	3.8	3	8.3	Strong
Jackson	4,452	3.9	2	8.3	Strong
Tallapoosa	3,832	5.2	2	8.3	Strong
Colbert	4,917	4.3	2	8.3	Strong
Dale	3,559	3.9	1	8.2	Strong
Autauga	4,190	4.9	1	8.2	Strong
Blount	4,551	3.9	4	8.1	Strong
Russell	3,430	3.3	0	8.0	Strong
Lawrence	2,615	4.8	0	8.0	Strong
Chilton	3,241	5.1	2	7.8	Strong
Escambia	2,889	3.9	4	7.8	Strong
Washington	1,302	4.2	0	7.8	Strong
Dallas	2,968	4.8	1	7.8	Strong
Henry	1,669	5.3	3	7.7	Strong
Cherokee	2,519	4.7	2	7.5	Strong
Monroe	1,712	2.9	1	7.5	Strong
Geneva	2,270	2.6	3	7.5	Strong
Crenshaw	1,068	4.1	1	7.5	Strong
Randolph	1,957	4.0	2	7.4	Strong
Barbour	2,156	5.6	2	7.3	Strong
Franklin	2,268	3.9	1	7.3	Strong
Choctaw	1,323	3.9	0	7.3	Strong
Cleburne	1,275	3.8	0	7.3	Strong
Covington	3,600	3.9	3	7.3	Strong
Pike	2,162	3.2	0	7.3	Strong
Chambers	2,874	4.8	2	7.3	Strong
Bibb	1,668	5.4	0	7.2	Strong
Lamar	1,339	3.8	0	7.1	Strong
Clay	1,246	3.8	0	7.0	Strong
Pickens	1,549	2.6	0	7.0	Strong
Conecuh	1,238	5.4	0	7.0	Strong
Marion	2,794	3.7	1	7.0	Strong
Winston	2,222	4.6	2	6.9	Moderate
Marengo	1,609	2.7	2	6.9	Moderate
Macon	1,605	4.3	0	6.9	Moderate
Butler	1,764	5.5	2	6.7	Moderate
Hale	1,193	3.2	0	6.7	Moderate
Clarke	2,101	4.9	1	6.6	Moderate
Fayette	1,463	3.3	3	6.6	Moderate
Greene	736	2.9	0	—	—
Bullock	683	4.8	0	—	—
Wilcox	923	5.1	0	—	—
Coosa	981	3.1	0	—	—
Lowndes	844	4.1	0	—	—
Perry	783	6.8	0	—	—
Sumter	944	2.9	1	—	—

Top cities for assisted living in Alabama

Where the homes actually are. Each linked city has its own page with local supply and market context.

City	County	Homes	Beds	Avg size
Birmingham	Shelby	13	856	65.8
Mobile	Mobile	11	579	52.6
Tuscaloosa	Tuscaloosa	9	357	39.7
Huntsville	Madison	9	453	50.3
Montgomery	Montgomery	9	254	28.2
Dothan	Houston	6	182	30.3
Decatur	Morgan	6	174	29.0
Hoover	Shelby	5	245	49.0
Florence	Lauderdale	5	209	41.8

Frequently asked questions

What are the top markets for assisted living in Alabama?

The strongest Alabama markets on RAL Market Scout's opportunity scoring are Elmore, Lee, Cullman, Marshall, St. Clair counties — based on 75+ demand and projected senior growth versus current bed supply.

Which Alabama city has the most assisted living homes?

Birmingham has the most, with 13 licensed assisted living homes (about 856 beds).

How much does assisted living cost in Alabama?

The median assisted living cost in Alabama is about $4,425 per month — below the national median.

How many assisted living homes are in Alabama?

Alabama has approximately 202 licensed assisted living homes serving 361,910 residents aged 75 and older.

See the full Alabama picture

RAL Market Scout scores every county and ZIP in Alabama on demand, supply gaps, and referral capacity — and builds a site-level report for any address you're evaluating.

Run a Market Report Site Intelligence report

Sources: Licensed-home and city counts from Alabama state licensing rosters (RAL Market Scout data pipeline). 75+ population and growth from U.S. Census ACS. Bed supply from NIC MAP / state surveys. Cost figures are market medians. Data snapshot: 2026-07. Informational only — not legal, financial, or investment advice.