Many people believe Alabama’s residents are highly uneducated. It’s a stereotype Alabamians have had to live with for quite some time now. This stereotype couldn’t be further from the truth. Many of Alabama’s residents and natives are extremely smart, with some even going on to attain higher degrees of education.
According to Movoto, the 11 cities listed below are the smartest in Alabama. They used the criteria below to measure the state’s smartness:
* Colleges and universities per capita
* Libraries per capita
* Museums per capita
* Percentage of residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher
* High school graduation rate
* Average K-12 class size
Movoto’s ranking is for the Top 10, but keep in mind, two of the cities ended in a tie. Because of this, there are actually 11 cities included in this ranking.
Now, let’s take a look at Movoto’s list of the 11 smartest cities in Alabama.
Mountain Brook, a suburb of Birmingham, is the state's most affluent and smartest place. Regarding education, 29.3% of Mountain Brook's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, and 99% of all high school students receive their diploma. Mountain Brook has an average student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1.
Fairhope is located near Mobile Bay and was once known as a popular winter retreat for intellectuals. Regarding education, 21.1% of Fairhope's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, and its high school graduation rate is 89%. Fairhope has an average student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. This smart city is home to one museum.
Chelsea, which was incorporated in 1996, has an average student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1. Its high school graduation rate is 86%, and 20.6% of its population has a bachelor's degree or higher.
Helena is a great place to live and raise children. Regarding education, its high school graduation rate is 95% and 21.4% of its population has a bachelor's degree or higher. Helena has an average student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1.
Homewood, a suburb of Birmingham, is home to Samford University. Its high school graduation rate is 93%, and 19.12% of its population has a bachelor's degree or higher. Homewood has an average student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1.
Calera, located in Shelby and Chilton counties, is one of Alabama's fastest-growing cities. Regarding education, 14.5% of its population has a bachelor's degree or higher, and its high school graduation rate is 76%. Calera has an average student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1.
Vestavia Hills, a suburb of Birmingham, has an average student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1. Its high school graduation rate is 96%, and 26.1% of its population has a bachelor's degree or higher.
Huntsville, located primarily in Madison County, has five colleges, six libraries and 15 museums. Regarding education, Huntsville has a high school graduation rate of 86% and 15.7% of its population has a bachelor's degree or higher. Huntsville has an average student-teacher ration of 14 to 1.
Irondale, a suburb of Birmingham, tied with Huntsville for the 8th spot. Irondale served as the inspiration for Fannie Flagg's novel "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe." Regarding education, Irondale has an average student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1. Its high school graduation rate is 85%, and 12.4% of its population has a bachelor's degree or higher.
Muscle Shoals, the largest city in Colbert County, has an average student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1. Its high school graduation rate is 85%, and 11.7% of its population has a bachelor's degree or higher. Muscle Shoals has one library and no museums.
Montgomery, the capital city of Alabama, tied with Muscle Shoals for the 10th spot. Montgomery has an average student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1. Its high school graduation rate is 81%, and 12.04% of its population has a bachelor's degree or higher. Montgomery is home to nine colleges, 23 museums and eight libraries.
There you have it. Those are the 11 smartest cities in Alabama, according to Movoto. Remember, this ranking was based on certain criteria. I wouldn’t consider it to be conclusive. For example, there are many smart and successful people who dropped out of high school or never attended (or dropped out of) college. So, having a diploma or degree doesn’t necessarily mean someone is much smarter than those without one. Also, regarding jobs, there are many people working a low-paying job, but they’re actually more intelligent than those with a high-paying job. They just didn’t have the means to get a degree that’s required for many professions.
So, what do you think? Do you agree with this ranking? Let us know in the comments below!
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