The Town FilesCordova, Alabama
Town in Walker County · population 1,728 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $87,100
- Household income
- $37,662
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 47.2
Cordova is a town of 1,728 people in Walker County, Alabama. The median home is worth $87,100, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks quieter than 90% of Alabama towns, better for cycling than 87% of Alabama towns, better transit than 87% of Alabama towns.
How Cordova 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 Cordova is worth $87,100, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $37,662, which is more affordable than 83% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $460 a month. 64.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cordova | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $87,100 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $460 | $834 |
| Median household income | $37,662 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 64.1% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Cordova
| People | Cordova | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.8% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.1% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.0% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.7% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 27.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.5% | 86.7% |
Weather in Cordova
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 30.6°F. About 61.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 73 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cordova since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 0.0 miles from the town center and killed 9. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 17 deaths and 209 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 60 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 27, 2011.
Severe weather in Walker County since 1996
Walker County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| July 10, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4555: Severe Thunderstorms |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Walker County
Walker County had 18,709 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,692 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Cordova itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Cordova
3 public schools with 1,105 students, about 17.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cordova High School | 9-12 | 462 | 18.5 |
| Cordova Elementary School | PK-4 | 366 | 16.6 |
| Bankhead Middle School | 5-8 | 277 | 15.4 |
Towns near Cordova
- Parrish, AL5.1 mi · 982 people · home $56,800
- Dora, AL7.2 mi · 2,297 people · home $155,100
- Jasper, AL7.3 mi · 14,572 people · home $215,700
- Sumiton, AL8.8 mi · 2,444 people · home $180,700
- Oakman, AL11.4 mi · 771 people · home $92,600
- Adamsville, AL17.1 mi · 4,366 people · home $145,700
- Graysville, AL17.3 mi · 1,950 people · home $116,900
- Sylvan Springs, AL18.7 mi · 1,653 people · home $217,000
Cordova questions
Is Cordova, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cordova scores better for retirees than 25% of Alabama towns and quieter than 90%. 22.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.2).
How much does a house cost in Cordova?
The median owner-occupied home in Cordova is valued at $87,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,662, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $460 a month.
What is the weather like in Cordova?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 30.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Cordova get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cordova since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 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)