The Town FilesBrilliant, Alabama
Town in Marion County · population 845 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $47,200
- Household income
- $47,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 54.5
Brilliant is a town of 845 people in Marion County, Alabama. The median home is worth $47,200, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 77% of Alabama towns, more of a college town than 77% of Alabama towns.
How Brilliant 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 Brilliant is worth $47,200, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 1.0 times the median household income of $47,125, which is more affordable than 99% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $477 a month. 67.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brilliant | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $47,200 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $477 | $834 |
| Median household income | $47,125 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.1% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Brilliant
| People | Brilliant | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.5 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.5% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 36.2% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in Brilliant
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 30.1°F. About 64.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 52 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 81 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brilliant since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1974 about 2.1 miles from the town center and killed 23. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 23 deaths and 271 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on January 24, 1997.
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 Brilliant itself the ACS puts it at 10.1%.
Public schools in Brilliant
1 public school with 268 students, about 16.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brilliant School | PK-12 | 268 | 16.8 |
Towns near Brilliant
- Winfield, AL6.4 mi · 4,845 people · home $165,500
- Guin, AL8.2 mi · 2,195 people · home $112,000
- Lynn, AL12.8 mi · 610 people · home $65,100
- Hamilton, AL13.9 mi · 7,042 people · home $106,300
- Bear Creek, AL16.2 mi · 1,047 people · home $96,900
- Carbon Hill, AL16.8 mi · 1,769 people · home $61,100
- Haleyville, AL16.8 mi · 4,361 people · home $97,600
- Hackleburg, AL17.2 mi · 1,425 people · home $104,700
Brilliant questions
Is Brilliant, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brilliant scores better for retirees than 21% of Alabama towns and quieter than 56%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.5).
How much does a house cost in Brilliant?
The median owner-occupied home in Brilliant is valued at $47,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,125, so homes cost about 1.0 times income. Median rent is $477 a month.
What is the weather like in Brilliant?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 30.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 64.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Brilliant get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brilliant since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 3, 1974. 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)