The Town FilesDecatur, Alabama
City in Morgan County · population 57,938 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $210,200
- Household income
- $61,563
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 50
- Median age
- 39.7
Decatur is a city of 57,938 people in Morgan County, Alabama. The median home is worth $210,200, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more vibrant than 97% of Alabama towns, more walkable than 89% of Alabama towns, better for cycling than 89% of Alabama towns.
How Decatur 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 Decatur is worth $210,200, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $61,563, which is more affordable than 27% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $896 a month. 63.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Decatur | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $210,200 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $896 | $834 |
| Median household income | $61,563 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 63.3% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Decatur
| People | Decatur | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.1% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.4% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.1% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 21.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in Decatur
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 31.2°F. About 58.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.6 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 52 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
50 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Decatur since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 20 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on April 27, 2011 about 8.3 miles from the town center and killed 14. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 57 deaths and 401 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 73 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on April 10, 2009.
Severe weather in Morgan County since 1996
Morgan 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 |
| January 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4684: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Morgan County
Morgan County had 52,617 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,944 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Decatur itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Decatur
22 public schools with 9,679 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin High School | 10-12 | 1,055 | 15.3 |
| Decatur High School | 9-12 | 1,026 | 15.1 |
| Decatur Middle School | 6-8 | 792 | 14.9 |
| Austin Middle School | 6-8 | 713 | 14.9 |
| Austin Junior High School | 8-9 | 702 | 15.3 |
| Oak Park Elementary School | PK-5 | 517 | 16.7 |
| Priceville Junior High School | 5-8 | 510 | 20.4 |
| Priceville High School | 9-12 | 504 | 19.4 |
| BanksCaddell Elementary School | PK-5 | 447 | 17.9 |
| Chestnut Grove Elementary School | PK-5 | 435 | 13.6 |
| Austinville Elementary School | PK-5 | 418 | 16.7 |
| Frances Nungester Elementary School | PK-5 | 399 | 20.0 |
Towns near Decatur
- Trinity, AL5.5 mi · 2,526 people · home $283,000
- Priceville, AL6.8 mi · 3,512 people · home $266,400
- Hartselle, AL9.6 mi · 15,455 people · home $203,800
- Triana, AL13.8 mi · 2,890 people · home $278,200
- Athens, AL14.4 mi · 25,406 people · home $270,000
- Madison, AL16.1 mi · 56,933 people · home $398,800
- Moulton, AL17.7 mi · 3,398 people · home $123,900
- Huntsville, AL19.8 mi · 215,006 people · home $293,600
Decatur questions
Is Decatur, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Decatur scores better for retirees than 24% of Alabama towns and quieter than 4%. 18.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.7).
How much does a house cost in Decatur?
The median owner-occupied home in Decatur is valued at $210,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,563, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $896 a month.
What is the weather like in Decatur?
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 31.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.0 inches of precipitation a year and 1.6 inches of snow.
Does Decatur get tornadoes?
50 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Decatur since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF5 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)