The Town FilesBelle Fontaine, Alabama
Community in Mobile County · population 613 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $227,800
- Household income
- $107,857
- Jan low / Jul high
- 43° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 44.3
Belle Fontaine is a community of 613 people in Mobile County, Alabama. The median home is worth $227,800, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Alabama towns, more seaside character than 100% of Alabama towns, quieter than 98% of Alabama towns.
- #1 in The 21 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Alabama With Mild Winters
- #3 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Alabama
- #3 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Alabama
- #5 in 25 Small Towns in Alabama With the Mildest Winters
- #8 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #8 in The 50 Best Affordable Places to Retire in America With Mild Winters
How Belle Fontaine 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 Belle Fontaine is worth $227,800, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $107,857, which is more affordable than 89% of Alabama towns. 59.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Belle Fontaine | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $227,800 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | — | $834 |
| Median household income | $107,857 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 59.2% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Belle Fontaine
| People | Belle Fontaine | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.9% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.1% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 13.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.2% | 86.7% |
Weather in Belle Fontaine
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 42.5°F. About 60.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 73 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 15 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belle Fontaine since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 9, 2011 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on December 23, 2015.
Severe weather in Mobile County since 1996
Mobile County has been included in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Hurricane | EM-3656: Hurricane Isaias |
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| January 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4684: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| December 10, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4573: Hurricane Zeta |
| September 20, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4563: Hurricane Sally |
Jobs and pay in Mobile County
Mobile County had 175,327 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,700 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Belle Fontaine itself the ACS puts it at 8.6%.
Towns near Belle Fontaine
- Theodore, AL5.9 mi · 6,270 people · home $154,900
- Tillmans Corner, AL9.0 mi · 17,731 people · home $166,700
- Bayou La Batre, AL10.9 mi · 2,204 people · home $87,800
- Point Clear, AL11.6 mi · 2,076 people · home $867,500
- Mobile, AL12.4 mi · 187,041 people · home $193,300
- Fairhope, AL13.7 mi · 22,477 people · home $430,900
- Grand Bay, AL14.3 mi · 3,460 people · home $142,400
- Daphne, AL16.4 mi · 27,462 people · home $323,400
Belle Fontaine questions
Is Belle Fontaine, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Belle Fontaine scores better for retirees than 100% of Alabama towns and quieter than 98%. 10.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.3).
How much does a house cost in Belle Fontaine?
The median owner-occupied home in Belle Fontaine is valued at $227,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,857, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Belle Fontaine?
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 42.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Belle Fontaine get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belle Fontaine since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 9, 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)