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These Are The 10 Most Stressed Places In Alabama

By Chris Kolmar
Apr. 13, 2016
Last Modified and Fact Checked on:

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Exploring Alabama’s Most Stressed Cities in 2026
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Starting a new job often brings a sense of excitement, but it can also trigger stress. In 2026, various factors continue to contribute to stress levels in Alabama, including long commutes, demanding work hours, and the competitive job market.

In fact, certain cities in Alabama are experiencing heightened stress due to these challenges. Which locations in Alabama are grappling with the highest stress levels? Let’s take a look at the ten cities that stand out.

Leading the list is Prichard, recognized as the most stressed city in Alabama. Below is the complete ranking of the top 10 most stressed cities in the Heart of Dixie:

  1. Prichard
  2. Chickasaw
  3. Center Point
  4. Midfield
  5. Bessemer
  6. Birmingham
  7. Selma
  8. Lanett
  9. Robertsdale
  10. Russellville

Read on to discover the reasons behind the stress levels in these Alabama cities.

How We Assessed Stress Levels in Alabama

To evaluate stress, we identified six key criteria that reflect common sources of stress and analyzed data from cities in Alabama with populations over 5,000:

  1. Percentage of residents with long commutes (over 30 minutes)
  2. Unemployment rate
  3. Average hours worked per week
  4. Population density
  5. Percentage of income spent on rent
  6. Percentage of uninsured residents

A higher score in any of these categories indicates greater stress levels among residents.

Data was sourced from the U.S. Census’ American Community Survey, with the latest updates reflecting 2021-2025 statistics.

Each city was ranked from 1 to 105, with a lower rank signifying higher stress levels. The average scores across these criteria determined the overall Stress Score.

Let’s break down the stress statistics for each of the top ten cities and conclude with a comprehensive ranking of all 105 analyzed locations.

1. Prichard

Population: 22,475 People With High Rent: 51.9%
People With Long Commute: 32.9%
People Without Insurance: 22.3%

2. Chickasaw

Population: 6,026 People With High Rent: 67.8%
People With Long Commute: 30.7%
People Without Insurance: 18.9%

3. Center Point

Population: 16,876 People With High Rent: 62.9%
People With Long Commute: 41.5%
People Without Insurance: 15.2%

4. Midfield

Population: 5,319 People With High Rent: 60.3%
People With Long Commute: 34.2%
People Without Insurance: 15.0%

5. Bessemer

Population: 27,202 People With High Rent: 53.5%
People With Long Commute: 34.7%
People Without Insurance: 17.3%

6. Birmingham

Population: 211,705 People With High Rent: 53.1%
People With Long Commute: 25.3%
People Without Insurance: 17.1%

7. Selma

Population: 20,276 People With High Rent: 55.9%
People With Long Commute: 15.1%
People Without Insurance: 17.0%

8. Lanett

Population: 6,455 People With High Rent: 53.3%
People With Long Commute: 22.6%
People Without Insurance: 16.7%

9. Robertsdale

Population: 5,556 People With High Rent: 49.7%
People With Long Commute: 40.9%
People Without Insurance: 23.3%

10. Russellville

Population: 9,836 People With High Rent: 43.6%
People With Long Commute: 39.3%
People Without Insurance: 23.4%

Comprehensive List of Stressed Cities in Alabama

City Rank Population People With High Rent People With Long Commute People Without Insurance
Prichard 1 22,475 51.9% 32.9% 22.3%
Chickasaw 2 6,026 67.8% 30.7% 18.9%
Center Point 3 16,876 62.9% 41.5% 15.2%
Midfield 4 5,319 60.3% 34.2% 15.0%
Bessemer 5 27,202 53.5% 34.7% 17.3%
Birmingham 6 211,705 53.1% 25.3% 17.1%
Selma 7 20,276 55.9% 15.1% 17.0%
Lanett 8 6,455 53.3% 22.6% 16.7%
Robertsdale 9 5,556 49.7% 40.9% 23.3%
Russellville 10 9,836 43.6% 39.3% 23.4%
Tarrant 11 6,331 42.8% 26.9% 24.9%
Phenix City 12 35,753 46.6% 27.2% 16.8%
Jacksonville 13 12,416 60.4% 29.2% 11.0%
Mobile 14 194,942 51.8% 22.7% 15.7%
Montevallo 15 6,470 59.8% 39.8% 15.3%
Brewton 16 5,426 59.0% 22.6% 18.9%
Fairfield 17 11,039 49.1% 32.6% 11.2%
Gadsden 18 36,621 47.8% 20.4% 17.8%
Clanton 19 8,672 47.7% 42.8% 15.9%
Valley 20 9,456 49.2% 29.9% 16.6%
Hueytown 21 15,956 45.4% 41.7% 15.1%
Childersburg 22 5,117 62.0% 28.3% 12.6%
Foley 23 15,428 60.8% 24.3% 14.2%
Atmore 24 10,096 39.7% 22.6% 22.4%
Bay Minette 25 8,682 47.5% 33.3% 15.2%
Gulf Shores 26 10,523 46.4% 20.7% 17.8%
Talladega 27 16,034 42.5% 20.4% 16.4%
Attalla 28 5,995 36.1% 14.8% 23.4%
Decatur 29 55,641 40.1% 27.4% 17.3%
Alabaster 30 30,978 40.5% 52.2% 14.2%
Monroeville 31 6,343 51.4% 20.3% 13.6%
Wetumpka 32 7,136 32.1% 49.0% 14.2%
Jasper 33 14,247 51.1% 27.7% 13.8%
Hartselle 34 14,393 36.6% 41.4% 9.9%
Pell City 35 13,128 43.0% 39.5% 11.6%
Smiths Station 36 5,095 59.6% 29.8% 11.2%
Clay 37 9,699 48.3% 46.0% 8.0%
Arab 38 8,241 41.7% 41.9% 12.1%
Tuscumbia 39 8,565 52.7% 17.2% 10.6%
Sylacauga 40 12,786 42.1% 29.8% 11.6%
Pinson 41 7,141 42.0% 48.5% 11.0%
Tuskegee 42 9,435 44.4% 24.4% 12.7%
Anniston 43 22,749 43.5% 20.3% 15.5%
Orange Beach 44 5,629 53.8% 23.4% 16.6%
Rainbow City 45 9,623 51.4% 29.1% 14.7%
Oneonta 46 6,623 30.8% 45.4% 16.0%
Roanoke 47 6,013 47.4% 44.6% 11.8%
Boaz 48 9,781 41.2% 18.4% 16.7%
Cullman 49 14,933 45.3% 28.8% 15.6%
Huntsville 50 184,132 46.6% 15.1% 14.9%
Alexander City 51 14,815 44.6% 24.0% 16.5%
Montgomery 52 204,095 50.2% 15.3% 14.0%
Greenville 53 7,974 52.0% 26.7% 11.4%
Athens 54 23,335 42.2% 35.2% 13.3%
Leeds 55 12,063 50.5% 43.2% 9.1%
Sheffield 56 9,067 47.7% 13.7% 14.3%
Tuscaloosa 57 93,325 54.4% 13.3% 13.1%
Fairhope 58 16,661 48.0% 34.6% 9.9%
Irondale 59 12,399 35.6% 28.3% 15.0%
Tallassee 60 5,011 34.1% 37.2% 12.8%
Guntersville 61 8,316 44.1% 22.9% 15.9%
Glencoe 62 5,137 42.2% 25.5% 15.2%
Prattville 63 34,349 46.2% 31.8% 9.8%
Andalusia 64 9,048 47.4% 15.8% 14.4%
Oxford 65 21,250 34.5% 18.2% 14.4%
Jackson 66 5,116 39.9% 20.8% 16.4%
Daphne 67 22,983 37.8% 36.7% 9.2%
Opp 68 6,675 46.5% 22.8% 14.0%
Albertville 69 21,363 40.4% 18.0% 23.1%
Helena 70 16,752 38.7% 57.8% 4.0%
Eufaula 71 12,897 42.4% 26.3% 14.4%
Hoover 72 82,849 43.2% 29.2% 8.2%
Calera 73 12,376 32.2% 57.8% 10.6%
Spanish Fort 74 7,357 49.2% 35.2% 15.8%
Florence 75 39,738 48.4% 12.9% 12.5%
Dothan 76 67,574 44.4% 19.7% 13.3%
Troy 77 18,636 55.8% 13.9% 10.5%
Saraland 78 13,657 43.0% 25.5% 11.3%
Daleville 79 5,233 36.6% 18.0% 16.6%
Fort Payne 80 14,115 34.9% 16.2% 22.6%
Opelika 81 27,956 51.4% 16.6% 14.3%
Auburn 82 56,986 59.6% 15.5% 7.9%
Millbrook 83 14,858 37.5% 35.8% 8.6%
Pleasant Grove 84 10,230 25.7% 40.1% 7.9%
Pelham 85 22,106 32.2% 42.3% 10.4%
Hamilton 86 6,842 44.0% 26.1% 12.9%
Ozark 87 14,835 42.1% 25.1% 11.4%
Muscle Shoals 88 13,380 44.1% 23.4% 7.0%
Satsuma 89 6,145 28.0% 39.6% 7.8%
Vestavia Hills 90 34,061 50.4% 17.5% 3.0%
Enterprise 91 27,375 42.2% 14.7% 12.0%
Chelsea 92 11,051 32.6% 57.4% 6.5%
Demopolis 93 7,323 42.3% 17.4% 9.7%
Trussville 94 20,229 28.8% 42.6% 3.9%
Homewood 95 25,420 42.5% 12.8% 10.1%
Lincoln 96 6,321 28.7% 39.1% 11.1%
Moody 97 12,124 36.7% 41.2% 4.8%
Fultondale 98 8,593 35.2% 23.4% 12.5%
Gardendale 99 13,809 39.9% 36.1% 5.2%
Pike Road 100 6,605 68.5% 29.4% 3.6%
Northport 101 24,092 40.5% 14.5% 7.7%
Scottsboro 102 14,779 34.3% 23.4% 12.3%
Madison 103 44,866 32.2% 15.5% 7.3%
Southside 104 8,432 34.3% 29.6% 10.2%
Mountain Brook 105 20,484 23.5% 10.3% 1.5%
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Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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