Rainbow City, AL

Census place 0163288 · pop 10,284

D52/ 100
😐 Meh
C
in AL
📍 Alabama ranks #23 of 50 states →
🏆 Prop tax0.37% · top 3%
🚽 Inequality0.54 · bottom 3%
Taxes
0.37% property · US 0.99%9.46% sales · US 7.00%up to 5.00% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Income inequality0.543

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.54 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Adult obesity40.5%17

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

40.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Median household income$56,39822

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$56,398 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Physical inactivity30.6%23

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

30.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Bachelor's degree or higher20.8%24

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

20.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Adult smoking15.7%28

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

15.7% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Commute time27 min32

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

27 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Air quality (AQI)County-level47 AQI33

U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities

47 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Broadband access89.8%37

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

89.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Uninsured adults9.8%47

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

9.8% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Poor mental health17.1%51

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

17.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Homeownership65.6%55

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

65.6% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Poverty rate10.0%57

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

10.0% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level82/10060

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

82/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Property crime rate984/100k63

U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities

984 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Housing cost$223,00065

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$223,000 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Population growth (5yr)+7.2%73

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+7.2% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.1%75

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

3.1% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Violent crime rate87/100k75

U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities

87 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Property-tax burden0.37%97

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.37% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Not measured for Rainbow City: Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Rainbow City, AL a good place to live?
By the numbers, Rainbow City scores 52/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 21 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is property-tax burden and its weakest is income inequality. Alabama overall ranks #23 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Rainbow City, AL?
Rainbow City reports 87 violent crimes per 100k and 984 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Rainbow City, AL expensive to live in?
Rainbow City has a median home value of $223,000 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Rainbow City, AL?
Its weakest measured area is income inequality (0.54) — 3/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Rainbow City, AL best at?
Its strongest measured area is property-tax burden (0.37%) — 97/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.