The Town FilesBallplay, Alabama
Community in Etowah County · population 1,437 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $145,300
- Household income
- $47,837
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 45.9
Ballplay is a community of 1,437 people in Etowah County, Alabama. The median home is worth $145,300, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks quieter than 97% of Alabama towns, easier by car than 97% of Alabama towns, hipper than 77% of Alabama towns.
How Ballplay ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ballplay is worth $145,300, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $47,837, which is more affordable than 45% of Alabama towns. 94.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ballplay | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $145,300 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | — | $834 |
| Median household income | $47,837 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.0% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.7% | — |
Who lives in Ballplay
| People | Ballplay | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.9 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.3% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 12.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.0% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.8% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 37.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.1% | 86.7% |
Weather in Ballplay
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 32.8°F. About 57.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 66 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 53 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ballplay since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 5.8 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 37 deaths and 234 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 29, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 2, 2003.
Severe weather in Etowah County since 1996
Etowah County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| July 10, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4555: Severe Thunderstorms |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Etowah County
Etowah County had 33,010 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,564 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Ballplay itself the ACS puts it at 8.4%.
Towns near Ballplay
- Hokes Bluff, AL4.2 mi · 4,446 people · home $196,400
- Coats Bend, AL5.4 mi · 1,318 people · home $149,600
- Tidmore Bend, AL7.2 mi · 1,119 people · home $162,500
- Glencoe, AL9.2 mi · 5,372 people · home $206,100
- Leesburg, AL10.8 mi · 911 people · home $182,500
- Lookout Mountain, AL11.4 mi · 1,484 people · home $158,300
- Centre, AL11.7 mi · 3,587 people · home $158,400
- Gadsden, AL12.3 mi · 33,945 people · home $116,800
Ballplay questions
Is Ballplay, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ballplay scores better for retirees than 43% of Alabama towns and quieter than 97%. 25.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.9).
How much does a house cost in Ballplay?
The median owner-occupied home in Ballplay is valued at $145,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,837, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Ballplay?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 32.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Ballplay get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ballplay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 27, 2011. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)