2014 · AL69nTurnRightArab · Wikimedia Commons
Arab’s story
144 years in pictures
6 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
- 1882Arab is settled
- 2014AL69nTurnRightArab
- 2019Arab Alabama Aerial - March 2019
ArabAL
A town of 8,679, settled in 1882. Public schools that outperform most of Alabama.
Photo: formulanone · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
8,679
+5.1% since 2010
Typical home
$244K
+2.5% in a year
Household income
$64K
median
Median age
35.9
years
Jobs based here
3,739
Balanced
What makes Arab stand out
The 3 things Arab does most differently from other towns.
Arab’s report card
SchoolsABeats 94% of AL districtsOutdoors0 miof trails · 1.2% conservedHousing$244K1% above the AL typical homeCommute26 miHalf of commuters travel lessSafetyDLess crime than 13% of U.S. townsHealthCHealthier than 30% of U.S. townsClimate88°/32°Summer high · winter low · 1″ snowHazards36/100Low risk of storm & flood damage
Now in Arab
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Arab is #2 of 193 in AL for “Highest graduation rate”. Fair?
Your answer becomes a post in Arab’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Arab. Another town gets a different order.
Schools
Arab’s public schools outperform 94% of Alabama districts
The public schools Arab’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 94% of Alabama’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
ASchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arab Primary School | PK–2 | 698 | Not graded |
| Arab Elementary School | 3–5 | 599 | A+ |
| Arab Junior High School | 6–8 | 563 | A |
| Arab High School | 9–12 | 735 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AL on state tests and graduationAll 4 schools →
Outdoors
1.2% of Arab is conserved land
0.1 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves.
1.2%conserved
1.2%
conserved · 100 of 8,574 acres
0.1 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
#81
most conserved land in AL
#65
most walkable in AL
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Arab City Park | — | 14 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Housing
A typical Arab home is worth about $244K
The typical Arab home is worth about $244,000, up 2.5% in a year, close to the Alabama typical home.
$244KZillow home value
Typical home value
Arab$244K
Alabama$242K
Market temperature
111
days on market
93.9%
sale-to-list price
+2.5%
value change, 1 year
8
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Work & commute
About one in six working residents works right in Arab
Most working residents leave Arab for work: only 17% work in town. The top destinations are Huntsville (25%), Guntersville (5%) and Birmingham (4%). Half commute less than 26 miles.
17%work in town
Where working residents work
In Arab17%
Huntsville25%
Guntersville5%
Birmingham4%
Albertville3%
26 mi
median commute distance
3,739
jobs based in Arab
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 13% of U.S. towns
Arab reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 87% report less.
DSafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Arab3.8
Alabama3.5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Arab25.8
Alabama15
U.S.15.5
13th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
28th
percentile among AL towns
34
violent crimes reported in 2025
233
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Health
Healthier than 30% of U.S. towns
Arab beats the Alabama average on 4 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1.
CHealth Grade
32 measures vs. Alabama
4 better27 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Arab | AL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 10.6% | 13.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.2% | 8.2% |
Cullman Regional Medical Center
19.6 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
62nd
percentile among AL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Climate
Mild winters, hot summers
Arab has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 32°, and snow is almost unheard of.
88°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter34–53°
Spring50–71°
Summer67–87°
Fall51–73°
Nov 18
typical first frost
Mar 19
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
88°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with tornadoes at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 36% of U.S. communities.
36risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
TornadoesInland floodingCold waves
6
paid flood claims since 2001
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
About Arab
City in Alabama, United States
Arab ( ) is a city mostly in Marshall County, with a portion in Cullman County, in the northern part of the U.S. state of Alabama, located 10 miles (16 km) from Guntersville Lake and Guntersville Dam, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. The population was 8,461 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1882
- Population
- 8,461
- Area
- 13 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,089 ft
- ZIP code
- 35016
- Area code
- 256
More about Arab
Still missing for Arab:upcoming events