Cost Of Living
Everyday cost of living expenses like goods and services, housing, groceries, transportation, health care and utilities are far below the national average.
Housing
Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.
Amenities
The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.
Commute
Low commute scores could be due to limited access to public transit in this area, as well as longer-than-average work commute times for residents.
Employment
This area earns a low score in the employment category due to low household income levels and high unemployment rates, which may pose challenges in seeking job opportunities.
Health & Safety
Subpar air quality and the limited availability of certain health-related facilities such as hospitals, police stations, doctors and pharmacies may have contributed to the low score in this category.
Schools
The low schools score might be a result of factors like lower than average education levels, lackluster reading and math scores and the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools.
Located in the state of Alabama, Sheffield is a small city with a population of 8,925 residents. According to the most recent Census, 74% of Sheffield residents are White, 23% Black and 0% Asian. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? Sheffield offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 20 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re moving to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Sheffield could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Alabama if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like crime, health & safety, education, employment, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Sheffield and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Sheffield to Alabama and the national average.
Sheffield, AL receives 55 out of 100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #376 in Alabama and #22,342 in the USA. This score ranks well below the US average. With such a low livability score, it might be worth investigating a little further. If we explore each of the categories on their own, we see that Sheffield ranks well for housing (B+). Unfortunately for Sheffield, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: amenities (F), crime (F), education (F) and employment (F).
Unemployment rates can range pretty dramatically from one city to another. Knowing that Sheffield has an unemployment rate of 2.68% could mean increased job opportunities with a higher demand for workers. It could also lead to higher wages, as the demand for workers exceeds the availability of jobs. Most importantly, it could be a sign of a healthy and thriving local economy.
A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Sheffield excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.
Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Sheffield. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Sheffield are affordable. The median home price for Sheffield homes is $100,500, which is 21.8% lower than the Alabama average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Sheffield, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.7, which is 6.9% lower than the Alabama average.
| Statistic | Sheffield | Alabama | National |
| Average one way commute | 20min | 25min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 90.5% | 85.7% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 6.7% | 8.8% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.0% | 0.4% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.0% | 1.1% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 1.8% | 2.9% | 4.6% |
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See the best places to live in & around Sheffield