The Town FilesBlue Ridge, Alabama
Community in Elmore County · population 1,485 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $314,900
- Household income
- $128,482
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 57.4
Blue Ridge is a community of 1,485 people in Elmore County, Alabama. The median home is worth $314,900, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Alabama towns, more of a college town than 99% of Alabama towns, more upscale than 96% of Alabama towns.
- #2 in The 21 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Alabama With Mild Winters
- #4 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Alabama
- #15 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Alabama
- #21 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Alabama
- #24 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Alabama
- #41 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
How Blue Ridge 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 Blue Ridge is worth $314,900, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $128,482, which is more affordable than 74% of Alabama towns. 98.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Blue Ridge | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $314,900 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | — | $834 |
| Median household income | $128,482 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 98.6% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Blue Ridge
| People | Blue Ridge | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.4 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 37.6% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 11.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54.4% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 34.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in Blue Ridge
July highs average 94.2°F and January lows 40.0°F. About 51.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 92 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 40 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Blue Ridge since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 27, 2011 about 8.2 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 57 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 30, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 11, 2007.
Severe weather in Elmore County since 1996
Elmore County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 |
| January 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4684: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| December 10, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4573: Hurricane Zeta |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
Jobs and pay in Elmore County
Elmore County had 21,539 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,014 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Blue Ridge itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Blue Ridge
- Redland, AL2.6 mi · 5,106 people · home $317,100
- Wetumpka, AL3.3 mi · 7,220 people · home $203,900
- Emerald Mountain, AL6.2 mi · 3,310 people · home $321,300
- Coosada, AL8.4 mi · 1,217 people · home $169,900
- Elmore, AL10.1 mi · 1,280 people · home $107,500
- Millbrook, AL11.2 mi · 16,564 people · home $207,100
- Montgomery, AL11.5 mi · 200,603 people · home $161,900
- Holtville, AL12.4 mi · 4,940 people · home $267,100
Blue Ridge questions
Is Blue Ridge, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Blue Ridge scores better for retirees than 99% of Alabama towns and quieter than 81%. 37.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.4).
How much does a house cost in Blue Ridge?
The median owner-occupied home in Blue Ridge is valued at $314,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $128,482, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Blue Ridge?
July highs average 94.2°F and January lows 40.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Blue Ridge get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Blue Ridge since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 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)