The Town FilesBear Creek, Alabama
Town in Marion County · population 1,047 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $96,900
- Household income
- $50,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 41.1
Bear Creek is a town of 1,047 people in Marion County, Alabama. The median home is worth $96,900, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks quieter than 92% of Alabama towns.
How Bear Creek 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 Bear Creek is worth $96,900, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $50,188, which is more affordable than 93% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $760 a month. 82.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bear Creek | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $96,900 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $760 | $834 |
| Median household income | $50,188 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 82.1% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.7% | — |
Who lives in Bear Creek
| People | Bear Creek | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.4% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.4% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.4% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.2% | 86.7% |
Weather in Bear Creek
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 32.9°F. About 66.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 57 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bear Creek since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 16 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on April 27, 2011 about 5.6 miles from the town center and killed 18. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 74 deaths and 432 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 1, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 27, 1996.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| May 5, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4710: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| May 21, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4546: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Marion County
Marion County had 10,222 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,179 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Bear Creek itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Public schools in Bear Creek
2 public schools with 475 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phillips Elementary School | PK-6 | 263 | 14.6 |
| Phillips High School | 7-12 | 212 | 15.1 |
Towns near Bear Creek
- Haleyville, AL5.7 mi · 4,361 people · home $97,600
- Phil Campbell, AL6.6 mi · 992 people · home $113,600
- Hackleburg, AL6.7 mi · 1,425 people · home $104,700
- Brilliant, AL16.2 mi · 845 people · home $47,200
- Lynn, AL16.6 mi · 610 people · home $65,100
- Hamilton, AL16.8 mi · 7,042 people · home $106,300
- Russellville, AL17.3 mi · 10,855 people · home $123,800
- Double Springs, AL19.9 mi · 1,119 people · home $153,500
Bear Creek questions
Is Bear Creek, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bear Creek scores better for retirees than 26% of Alabama towns and quieter than 92%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in Bear Creek?
The median owner-occupied home in Bear Creek is valued at $96,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,188, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $760 a month.
What is the weather like in Bear Creek?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 32.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 66.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Bear Creek get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bear Creek since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF5 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)