Niche has released its annual list of best places to live in 2026 and three Alabama counties are leading the way for the state.
Specifically, the three counties were listed among Niche’s best counties to live across the country. Our trio to make the cut included:
- No. 14 Madison County
- No. 23 Shelby County
- No. 38 Lee County
All three counties earned an A+ grade from Niche.
But that was just the start of Alabama spots recognized in the rankings this year. Keep reading to learn more about each of those counties + see what other areas made the Best Places to Live list.
Madison County
It’s no surprise to see Madison County at the top of the list once again. This is where it ranked in several different categories among Alabama counties:
- Best for young professionals: #1
- Best for families: #2
- Healthiest: #2
- Best to buy a house: #2
- Best for outdoor activities: #4
- Most diverse: #7
- Best public schools: #8
The county is also home of the best zip code in the state (35758), the second best suburb in the state (Madison) and the third best city in the state (Huntsville).
Shelby County
Shelby County actually led Madison in several categories, helping it earn a top 25 spot on Niche’s national rankings…