The Town FilesGadsden, Alabama
City in Etowah County · population 33,945 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,800
- Household income
- $40,345
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 38.6
Gadsden is a city of 33,945 people in Etowah County, Alabama. The median home is worth $116,800, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more walkable than 96% of Alabama towns, hipper than 93% of Alabama towns, more vibrant than 90% of Alabama towns.
How Gadsden 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 Gadsden is worth $116,800, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $40,345, which is more affordable than 50% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $808 a month. 55.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gadsden | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,800 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $808 | $834 |
| Median household income | $40,345 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 55.7% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Gadsden
| People | Gadsden | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.5% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.1% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.3% | 86.7% |
Weather in Gadsden
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 32.8°F. About 57.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 66 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 53 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gadsden since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on December 16, 2000 about 5.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 29, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 68 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 7, 1985.
Severe weather in Etowah County since 1996
Etowah County has been included in 29 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 Etowah County
Etowah County had 33,010 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,564 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Gadsden itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Gadsden
19 public schools with 5,741 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gadsden City High School | 9-12 | 1,309 | 15.6 |
| Gadsden Middle School | 6-8 | 467 | 18.7 |
| Adams Elementary School | PK-5 | 415 | 16.6 |
| W E Striplin Elementary School | PK-5 | 407 | 17.0 |
| Gaston High School | 7-12 | 362 | 19.1 |
| Eura Brown Elementary School | PK-5 | 350 | 16.7 |
| Floyd Elementary School | PK-5 | 350 | 17.5 |
| Sansom Middle School | 6-8 | 338 | 16.9 |
| Gaston Elementary School | PK-6 | 284 | 17.8 |
| Mitchell Elementary School | PK-5 | 281 | 16.5 |
| Thompson Elementary School | PK-5 | 249 | 17.8 |
| Litchfield Middle School | 6-8 | 247 | 15.4 |
Towns near Gadsden
- Attalla, AL6.2 mi · 5,827 people · home $126,100
- Glencoe, AL6.2 mi · 5,372 people · home $206,100
- Rainbow City, AL6.6 mi · 10,191 people · home $223,000
- Southside, AL8.0 mi · 9,426 people · home $226,500
- Hokes Bluff, AL8.9 mi · 4,446 people · home $196,400
- Boaz, AL15.5 mi · 10,107 people · home $199,200
- Alexandria, AL18.9 mi · 4,032 people · home $197,700
- Jacksonville, AL20.2 mi · 14,385 people · home $185,500
Gadsden questions
Is Gadsden, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gadsden scores better for retirees than 11% of Alabama towns and quieter than 11%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.6).
How much does a house cost in Gadsden?
The median owner-occupied home in Gadsden is valued at $116,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,345, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $808 a month.
What is the weather like in Gadsden?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 32.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Gadsden get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gadsden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on December 16, 2000. 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)