By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

Several Shelby County cities are among the best places to live in Alabama, according to a list recently published by a national ranking website.

The website Niche.com recently published its “Best Places to Live in Alabama” list, and the Shelby County communities of Hoover, Meadowbrook, Indian Springs Village, Brook Highland, Pelham, Calera, Alabaster, Helena and Chelsea all placed in the top 35.

The website formulated the list based on several criteria, such as cost of living, education, real estate, crime and safety, nightlife, family amenities, weather and jobs.

The following Shelby County cities placed in the top 35:

 

-Hoover came in at No. 3 on the list, earning high grades in education, diversity, nightlife and family amenities. Hoover scored Bs in cost of living, real estate, health and fitness, shortest commute, crime and safety, jobs, outdoor activities and weather.

-Meadowbrook, which is near the intersection of Alabama 119 and U.S. 280, came in at No. 6 on the list, scoring high in education, real estate, health and fitness, nightlife, family amenities and jobs. Meadowbrook earned Bs in cost of living, diversity, shortest commute, outdoor activities and weather.

-Indian Springs Village came in at No. 7 on the list, earning its highest grades in education, real estate, health and fitness and family amenities. The town earned Bs in cost of living, diversity, nightlife, shortest commute, jobs, outdoor activities and weather.

-Brook Highland, which is off U.S. 280, placed 13^th on the list, earning its highest grades in education, diversity, health and fitness and nightlife. It scored Bs in real estate, shortest commute, family amenities, jobs, outdoor activities and weather, and scored a C in cost of living.

-Pelham placed No. 14 on the list, earning As in education, real estate, health and fitness and nightlife. The city scored Bs in cost of living, diversity, crime, family amenities, jobs, outdoor activities and weather, and scored a C in shortest commute.

-Calera came in at No. 18 on the list, scoring As in education, real estate, diversity and nightlife, and Bs in health and fitness, shortest commute, family amenities, jobs, outdoor activities and weather.

-Alabaster came in at No. 29 on the list, scoring high in education, real estate, diversity and health and fitness. The city earned Bs in cost of living, nightlife, crime and safety, family amenities, jobs, outdoor activities and weather, and scored a C in shortest commute.

-Helena came in at No. 34 on the list, earning high scores in education, public schools and real estate. The city earned Bs in cost of living, diversity, health and fitness, nightlife, crime and safety, family amenities, jobs, outdoor activities and weather.

-Chelsea placed No. 35 on the list, earning high grades in education, real estate and family amenities. The city scored Bs in diversity, health an fitness, nightlife, jobs, outdoor activities and weather, and scored Cs on shortest commute and cost of living.

To view the entire list, visit Local.niche.com/rankings/places/best-places-to-live/s/alabama/.