By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

Several Shelby County cities earned high marks for attracting young professionals with a combination of access to amenities, affordable housing and job opportunities in a list of “Best Suburbs for Millenials in Alabama” compiled by Niche.com.

The website reviewed data for more than 11,000 suburbs across the nation while compiling the rankings, and looked at several factors, including ease of commute, number of residents ages 25-34, access to bars, coffee shops and restaurants, higher education rate and overall safety.

“A high ranking indicates that a suburb attracts millenials with an affordable, diverse community and lots of things to do,” read the website.

Pelham came in at No. 4 on the list, representing the highest-ranked Shelby County city. Pelham earned high marks on access to restaurants and coffee shops, and earned an average ranking on access to bars.

Pelham recorded a 4.4 percent unemployment rate and a 2.2 percent growth in its number of new professionals over the past year. The city also earned high grades in ease of commute and safety.

Montevallo came in at No. 9 in the state for young professionals, earning high marks in ease of commute, higher education rate and rent-to-income ratio. Montevallo earned above-average grades in safety and access to restaurants, but scored low in access to bars and coffee shops, according to the list.

Alabaster came in at No. 11 on the list, earning praise for ease of commute, safety, access to restaurants and coffee shops and ratio of rent to income.

Alabaster has a 33.1 percent higher education rate, which is among the highest in the state, and has a 4.3 percent unemployment rate. Alabaster, like the other Shelby County cities on the list, scored low in access to bars.

Helena rounded out the list of Shelby County cities, coming in at No. 21 on the list. Helena scored high in safety, access to restaurants, unemployment rate, higher education rate and rent-to-income ratios.

Helena received average grades on ease of commute and access to coffee shops, and scored low in access to bars.

To view the full list, visit Local.niche.com/rankings/suburbs/best-places-for-young-professionals/s/alabama/.