The Town FilesCherokee, Alabama
Town in Colbert County · population 970 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $102,300
- Household income
- $50,815
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 36.4
Cherokee is a town of 970 people in Colbert County, Alabama. The median home is worth $102,300, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of Alabama towns, quieter than 89% of Alabama towns, easier by car than 87% of Alabama towns.
How Cherokee 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 Cherokee is worth $102,300, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $50,815, which is more affordable than 91% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $902 a month. 70.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cherokee | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $102,300 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $902 | $834 |
| Median household income | $50,815 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.6% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Cherokee
| People | Cherokee | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.6% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.8% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.7% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 2.0% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Cherokee
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 27.8°F. About 62.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cherokee since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 21, 1955 about 3.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 5, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 2, 2012.
Severe weather in Colbert County since 1996
Colbert County has been included in 24 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 Colbert County
Colbert County had 24,495 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,010 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Cherokee itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Cherokee
2 public schools with 431 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee Elementary School | PK-6 | 221 | 14.7 |
| Cherokee High School | 7-12 | 210 | 10.5 |
Towns near Cherokee
- Iuka, MS13.6 mi · 3,139 people · home $124,700
- Tuscumbia, AL15.2 mi · 9,054 people · home $196,700
- Sheffield, AL15.2 mi · 9,403 people · home $133,800
- Underwood-Petersville, AL17.2 mi · 3,051 people · home $142,900
- Florence, AL17.9 mi · 40,184 people · home $196,300
- Muscle Shoals, AL18.9 mi · 16,275 people · home $199,700
- Littleville, AL20.2 mi · 1,038 people · home $142,400
- Burnsville, MS20.7 mi · 868 people · home $80,000
Cherokee questions
Is Cherokee, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cherokee scores better for retirees than 46% of Alabama towns and quieter than 89%. 24.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.4).
How much does a house cost in Cherokee?
The median owner-occupied home in Cherokee is valued at $102,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,815, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $902 a month.
What is the weather like in Cherokee?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 27.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 62.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Cherokee get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cherokee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 21, 1955. 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)