The Town FilesGordo, Alabama
Town in Pickens County · population 1,628 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $118,900
- Household income
- $47,569
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 38
- Median age
- 23.8
Gordo is a town of 1,628 people in Pickens County, Alabama. The median home is worth $118,900, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more of a college town than 97% of Alabama towns, easier by car than 89% of Alabama towns, better for first-time buyers than 71% of Alabama towns.
How Gordo 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 Gordo is worth $118,900, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $47,569, which is more affordable than 74% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $528 a month. 61.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gordo | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $118,900 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $528 | $834 |
| Median household income | $47,569 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 61.3% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.6% | — |
Who lives in Gordo
| People | Gordo | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 23.8 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.8% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.3% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.9% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 30.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.6% | 86.7% |
Weather in Gordo
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 35.7°F. About 53.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 85 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 48 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gordo since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 16 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on March 3, 1966 about 9.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 51 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 16, 2023.
Severe weather in Pickens County since 1996
Pickens County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2017 | Hurricane | EM-3389: Hurricane Irma |
Jobs and pay in Pickens County
Pickens County had 3,718 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,820 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Gordo itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Gordo
2 public schools with 1,019 students, about 18.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gordo Elementary School | PK-6 | 539 | 18.0 |
| Gordo High School | 7-12 | 480 | 18.5 |
Towns near Gordo
- Reform, AL7.6 mi · 1,520 people · home $102,700
- Carrollton, AL11.8 mi · 1,023 people · home $145,800
- Coker, AL13.9 mi · 904 people · home $200,700
- Northport, AL18.3 mi · 31,125 people · home $282,600
- Millport, AL19.2 mi · 1,010 people · home $104,400
- Aliceville, AL20.2 mi · 2,177 people · home $124,300
- Tuscaloosa, AL22.5 mi · 99,600 people · home $255,500
- Pickensville, AL23.1 mi · 557 people · home $159,800
Gordo questions
Is Gordo, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gordo scores better for retirees than 48% of Alabama towns and quieter than 36%. 13.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 23.8).
How much does a house cost in Gordo?
The median owner-occupied home in Gordo is valued at $118,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,569, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $528 a month.
What is the weather like in Gordo?
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 35.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Gordo get tornadoes?
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gordo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on March 3, 1966. 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)