The Town FilesGardendale, Alabama
City in Jefferson County · population 16,044 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $252,600
- Household income
- $82,192
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 38
- Median age
- 38.0
Gardendale is a city of 16,044 people in Jefferson County, Alabama. The median home is worth $252,600, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more upscale than 91% of Alabama towns, better transit than 88% of Alabama towns, more walkable than 86% of Alabama towns.
How Gardendale 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 Gardendale is worth $252,600, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $82,192, which is more affordable than 39% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $1,299 a month. 78.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gardendale | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $252,600 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $1,299 | $834 |
| Median household income | $82,192 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 78.2% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Gardendale
| People | Gardendale | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.7% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.2% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.3% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 86.7% |
Weather in Gardendale
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 31.0°F. About 57.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.4 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 64 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 72 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gardendale since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 17 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 8, 1998 about 7.4 miles from the town center and killed 32. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 106 deaths and 1,552 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 25, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 83 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 29, 1960.
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 Gardendale itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Gardendale
4 public schools with 2,912 students, about 19.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardendale High School | 9-12 | 1,063 | 18.3 |
| Bragg Middle School | 6-8 | 780 | 20.5 |
| Gardendale Elementary School | PK-5 | 679 | 20.0 |
| Snow Rogers Elementary School | PK-5 | 390 | 17.7 |
Towns near Gardendale
- Mount Olive, AL3.9 mi · 4,427 people · home $224,000
- Fultondale, AL3.9 mi · 9,876 people · home $186,100
- Tarrant, AL6.1 mi · 6,124 people · home $120,100
- Kimberly, AL7.1 mi · 3,841 people · home $322,300
- Center Point, AL7.4 mi · 16,406 people · home $151,700
- Pinson, AL8.7 mi · 7,215 people · home $212,000
- Forestdale, AL8.7 mi · 10,409 people · home $164,000
- Warrior, AL9.7 mi · 3,224 people · home $149,800
Gardendale questions
Is Gardendale, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gardendale scores better for retirees than 57% of Alabama towns and quieter than 30%. 17.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Gardendale?
The median owner-occupied home in Gardendale is valued at $252,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,192, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,299 a month.
What is the weather like in Gardendale?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 31.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.0 inches of precipitation a year and 1.4 inches of snow.
Does Gardendale get tornadoes?
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gardendale 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)