The Town FilesForestdale, Alabama
Community in Jefferson County · population 10,409 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $164,000
- Household income
- $66,569
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 46
- Median age
- 41.7
Forestdale is a community of 10,409 people in Jefferson County, Alabama. The median home is worth $164,000, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 88% of Alabama towns, more vibrant than 83% of Alabama towns, more walkable than 82% of Alabama towns.
How Forestdale 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 Forestdale is worth $164,000, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $66,569, which is more affordable than 74% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $1,203 a month. 69.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forestdale | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,000 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $1,203 | $834 |
| Median household income | $66,569 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.0% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Forestdale
| People | Forestdale | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.7% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.5% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.8% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Forestdale
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 34.9°F. About 56.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.4 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 65 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 47 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forestdale since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 18 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 8, 1998 about 0.6 miles from the town center and killed 32. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 104 deaths and 1,551 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 25, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 97 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on November 24, 2001.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| December 21, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4632: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 26, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4596: 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 Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 367,081 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,562 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Forestdale itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Towns near Forestdale
- Adamsville, AL4.6 mi · 4,366 people · home $145,700
- Fultondale, AL6.4 mi · 9,876 people · home $186,100
- Birmingham, AL6.7 mi · 200,733 people · home $158,800
- Mount Olive, AL6.8 mi · 4,427 people · home $224,000
- Fairfield, AL6.9 mi · 10,000 people · home $129,300
- Pleasant Grove, AL7.1 mi · 9,544 people · home $226,400
- Tarrant, AL7.8 mi · 6,124 people · home $120,100
- Midfield, AL8.3 mi · 5,211 people · home $107,600
Forestdale questions
Is Forestdale, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forestdale scores better for retirees than 70% of Alabama towns and quieter than 26%. 26.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in Forestdale?
The median owner-occupied home in Forestdale is valued at $164,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,569, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,203 a month.
What is the weather like in Forestdale?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 34.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1.4 inches of snow.
Does Forestdale get tornadoes?
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forestdale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 8, 1998. 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)