The Town FilesCottonwood, Alabama
Town in Houston County · population 1,048 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $111,500
- Household income
- $34,468
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 52.5
Cottonwood is a town of 1,048 people in Houston County, Alabama. The median home is worth $111,500, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks quieter than 81% of Alabama towns, hipper than 81% of Alabama towns, easier by car than 77% of Alabama towns.
How Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood is worth $111,500, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $34,468, which is more affordable than 37% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $339 a month. 66.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cottonwood | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,500 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $339 | $834 |
| Median household income | $34,468 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 66.8% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Cottonwood
| People | Cottonwood | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.5 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.9% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 11.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.5% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.6% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 11.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.0% | 86.7% |
Weather in Cottonwood
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 40.7°F. About 51.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 100 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 23 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cottonwood since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on January 9, 2024 about 0.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 25 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 25, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on February 7, 1971.
Severe weather in Houston County since 1996
Houston County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| September 20, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4563: Hurricane Sally |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Houston County
Houston County had 50,877 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,521 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Cottonwood itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Cottonwood
2 public schools with 904 students, about 17.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood Elementary School | PK-6 | 508 | 16.4 |
| Cottonwood High School | 7-12 | 396 | 18.0 |
Towns near Cottonwood
- Rehobeth, AL9.5 mi · 1,791 people · home $242,900
- Ashford, AL9.8 mi · 2,246 people · home $180,100
- Malone, FL10.5 mi · 1,959 people · home $82,500
- Cowarts, AL10.5 mi · 1,930 people · home $177,700
- Taylor, AL13.1 mi · 2,262 people · home $134,200
- Dothan, AL13.9 mi · 71,072 people · home $194,000
- Webb, AL14.1 mi · 1,270 people · home $113,800
- Graceville, FL14.2 mi · 2,153 people · home $120,600
Cottonwood questions
Is Cottonwood, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cottonwood scores better for retirees than 44% of Alabama towns and quieter than 81%. 22.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.5).
How much does a house cost in Cottonwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Cottonwood is valued at $111,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,468, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $339 a month.
What is the weather like in Cottonwood?
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 40.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Cottonwood get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cottonwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on January 9, 2024. 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)