The Town FilesGoodwater, Alabama
Town in Coosa County · population 1,291 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $58,900
- Household income
- $39,511
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 45.8
Goodwater is a town of 1,291 people in Coosa County, Alabama. The median home is worth $58,900, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks hipper than 99% of Alabama towns, quieter than 88% of Alabama towns, better for first-time buyers than 72% of Alabama towns.
How Goodwater 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 Goodwater is worth $58,900, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $39,511, which is more affordable than 97% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $650 a month. 56.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Goodwater | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $58,900 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $650 | $834 |
| Median household income | $39,511 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 56.6% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Goodwater
| People | Goodwater | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.8 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.2% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4.9% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 36.4% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Goodwater
July highs average 91.2°F and January lows 32.1°F. About 57.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 62 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 59 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Goodwater since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on November 24, 2004 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 18, 2024.
Severe weather in Coosa County since 1996
Coosa County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 |
| December 10, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4573: Hurricane Zeta |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
Jobs and pay in Coosa County
Coosa County had 1,452 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,388 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Goodwater itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Towns near Goodwater
- Hollins, AL6.0 mi · 517 people · home $92,400
- Alexander City, AL11.9 mi · 14,843 people · home $155,000
- Stewartville, AL12.1 mi · 1,662 people · home $94,100
- Mignon, AL14.7 mi · 1,186 people · home $37,500
- Sylacauga, AL15.6 mi · 12,578 people · home $161,200
- New Site, AL15.7 mi · 773 people · home $171,900
- Our Town, AL15.9 mi · 605 people · home —
- Oak Grove, AL17.1 mi · 564 people · home $165,900
Goodwater questions
Is Goodwater, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Goodwater scores better for retirees than 71% of Alabama towns and quieter than 88%. 28.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.8).
How much does a house cost in Goodwater?
The median owner-occupied home in Goodwater is valued at $58,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,511, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $650 a month.
What is the weather like in Goodwater?
July highs average 91.2°F and January lows 32.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.0 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Goodwater get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Goodwater since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on November 24, 2004. 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)