Hoover, Homewood, Pelham and Vestavia Hills side by side: 2025 millage, state report card scores, Zillow home values, Census income and commute times.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Sources: the Alabama Department of Revenue’s 2025 millage table (PDF); the Alabama State Department of Education’s state report card for 2025; Zillow Research; the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey (QuickFacts); and the four cities’ websites.
Homewood, Pelham and Vestavia Hills are the three cities nearest Hoover. Homewood and Pelham are each about 5 1/2 miles from the middle of Hoover and Vestavia Hills about 7. All four run their own school systems, police and fire departments. This page sets the official figures side by side, one table per topic, with the same year for every city. It does not rank the cities.
The short version
- Property tax: 58.0 mills in Pelham, 66.5 to 72.6 in Hoover, 75.0 in Homewood and 92.6 in Vestavia Hills (Jefferson County side), 2025 tax year.
- High schools, 2025 report card: 84 to 96, all B or A.
- Typical home value, September 2026: $325,023 in Pelham to $568,543 in Homewood.
Property taxes
All four rates come from the state’s October 2025 millage table for the 2025 tax year. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. Hoover and Vestavia Hills reach into Shelby County, so they have two rates; Homewood is entirely in Jefferson County and Pelham in Shelby County.
| Levy | Hoover (Jefferson) | Hoover (Shelby) | Homewood | Pelham | Vestavia Hills (Jefferson) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| County | 13.5 | 7.5 | 13.5 | 7.5 | 13.5 |
| School (county and district) | 22.1 | 22.0 | 23.3 | 30.0 | 23.3 |
| City | 30.5 | 30.5 | 31.7 | 14.0 | 49.3 |
| Total | 72.6 | 66.5 | 75.0 | 58.0 | 92.6 |
The Shelby County part of Vestavia Hills is listed at 49.3 city mills plus 6.5 state, 7.5 county and 16.0 school mills, 79.3 in all. Jefferson County also adds a $5 storm water fee to each Class III bill, the table says.
Total rate in each city
How it works out. Alabama assesses an owner-occupied home at 10% of its appraised value, according to the Department of Revenue. A home appraised at $300,000 is assessed at $30,000. Before exemptions that is $1,740 a year in Pelham, $1,995 in the Shelby County part of Hoover, $2,178 in the Jefferson County part, $2,250 in Homewood and $2,778 in the Jefferson County part of Vestavia Hills.
Homestead exemptions are the state’s and the counties’: up to $4,000 of assessed value off state taxes and up to $2,000 off county taxes for an owner-occupant under 65, with larger exemptions for owners 65 and older or disabled, according to the state’s homestead page. They apply the same way in all four cities. More in our property taxes guide.
Schools
Scores are the overall 2025 state report card scores for the 2024-25 school year.
| City | School system, 2025 score | High school | High school 2025 score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoover | Hoover City, 95 (A) | Hoover High | 84 (B) |
| Hoover | Hoover City (same system) | Spain Park High | 90 (A) |
| Homewood | Homewood City, 96 (A) | Homewood High | 94 (A) |
| Pelham | Pelham City, 90 (A) | Pelham High | 84 (B) |
| Vestavia Hills | Vestavia Hills City, 97 (A) | Vestavia Hills High (grades 10-12) | 96 (A) |
Which Hoover high school a home is zoned for depends on the area: about 60% of Hoover parcels are zoned for Hoover High and 40% for Spain Park High. See our neighborhoods guide and schools guide.
Home values
| Measure | Hoover | Homewood | Pelham | Vestavia Hills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $437,458 | $568,543 | $325,023 | $563,923 |
| Change from September 2025 | +2.9% | +6.6% | +2.2% | +4.1% |
Source: Zillow Home Value Index city files, a modeled typical value for the middle third of homes, not a sale price.
Typical home value in each city
Inside Hoover, values vary by ZIP code, from $409,889 in 35216 to $565,170 in 35242; see our home prices guide.
People, income and commute
From the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates:
| Measure | Hoover | Homewood | Pelham | Vestavia Hills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 92,642 | 27,829 | 24,827 | 38,616 |
| Median household income | $109,253 | $94,485 | $101,094 | $134,369 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $412,200 | $558,500 | $299,800 | $530,000 |
| Homes that are owner-occupied | 71.1% | 61.7% | 83.9% | 78.0% |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.2 minutes | 17.1 minutes | 28.6 minutes | 19.3 minutes |
These are survey estimates with margins of error; see QuickFacts for Hoover, Homewood, Pelham and Vestavia Hills.
City services
| Service | Hoover | Homewood | Pelham | Vestavia Hills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Police | Hoover Police Department | Homewood Police Department | Pelham Police Department | Vestavia Hills Police Department |
| Fire | Hoover Fire Department | Homewood Fire Department | Pelham Fire Department | Vestavia Hills Fire Department |
| Household trash | Amwaste, twice a week (city page) | Amwaste, twice a week (city page) | Amwaste, billed monthly through Pelham Water Works (city page) | Amwaste, twice a week (city page) |
| Schools | Hoover City Schools | Homewood City Schools | Pelham City Schools | Vestavia Hills City Schools |
Pelham’s residential trash rate is $27.39 a month and rises to $32.87 on Jan. 1, 2027, the city says. More in our trash and recycling guide and who to call at City Hall.
How to check an address
Mailing names and ZIP codes do not follow city lines here. Many homes inside Hoover have a Birmingham mailing address, and ZIP 35216 is shared by Hoover and Vestavia Hills.
- Which city a parcel is in: the Jefferson County property portal or the Shelby County Property Tax Commissioner.
- Which Hoover school it is zoned for: the Hoover City Schools School Locator Map, or Student Services, 205-439-1016. For Homewood, Pelham or Vestavia Hills, ask that city’s school system.
- What the tax bill would be: multiply the assessed value (10% of appraised value for an owner-occupied home) by the total millage above, then take off any exemptions. The county offices above can confirm a parcel’s value and exemptions.
Frequently asked questions
Are property taxes higher in Hoover or Vestavia Hills?
Vestavia Hills. On the Jefferson County side, the state’s 2025 millage table puts the total at 92.6 mills inside Vestavia Hills and 72.6 inside Hoover. Homewood is 75.0 and Pelham, in Shelby County, 58.0.
Which high schools serve Hoover, Homewood, Pelham and Vestavia Hills?
Hoover has two, Hoover High (84 on the 2025 state report card) and Spain Park High (90). Homewood High scored 94, Pelham High 84 and Vestavia Hills High 96.
What is the typical home value in Hoover compared with Homewood and Vestavia Hills?
In September 2026 the Zillow Home Value Index was $437,458 in Hoover, $568,543 in Homewood, $563,923 in Vestavia Hills and $325,023 in Pelham.
Do Hoover, Homewood, Pelham and Vestavia Hills have their own school districts?
Yes. Each city runs its own school system, separate from the Jefferson County and Shelby County systems.
Who picks up trash in Hoover, Homewood, Pelham and Vestavia Hills?
Amwaste, under a contract with each city, according to the four cities’ websites.
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