The Town FilesGurley, Alabama
Town in Madison County · population 816 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $194,800
- Household income
- $56,964
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 38.1
Gurley is a town of 816 people in Madison County, Alabama. The median home is worth $194,800, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for retirees than 93% of Alabama towns, hipper than 86% of Alabama towns, more upscale than 77% of Alabama towns.
How Gurley 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 Gurley is worth $194,800, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $56,964, which is more affordable than 27% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $1,054 a month. 68.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gurley | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $194,800 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $1,054 | $834 |
| Median household income | $56,964 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 68.9% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Gurley
| People | Gurley | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.1% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in Gurley
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 29.6°F. About 58.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.7 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 49 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 78 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gurley since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 18, 1995 about 7.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 24 deaths and 538 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 18, 2023.
Severe weather in Madison County since 1996
Madison County has been included in 21 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 |
| April 17, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4426: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Madison County
Madison County had 229,807 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,051 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Gurley itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Gurley
2 public schools with 872 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County High School | 9-12 | 464 | 15.0 |
| Madison County Elementary School | PK-8 | 408 | 14.6 |
Towns near Gurley
- Woodville, AL7.4 mi · 746 people · home $184,600
- Owens Cross Roads, AL9.1 mi · 2,594 people · home $227,000
- New Hope, AL11.4 mi · 2,889 people · home $163,700
- Moores Mill, AL13.1 mi · 6,729 people · home $274,000
- New Market, AL13.4 mi · 1,543 people · home $112,500
- Grant, AL14.4 mi · 1,039 people · home $239,400
- Redstone Arsenal, AL15.4 mi · 837 people · home —
- Skyline, AL16.1 mi · 834 people · home $123,800
Gurley questions
Is Gurley, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gurley scores better for retirees than 93% of Alabama towns and quieter than 58%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.1).
How much does a house cost in Gurley?
The median owner-occupied home in Gurley is valued at $194,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,964, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,054 a month.
What is the weather like in Gurley?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 29.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.1 inches of precipitation a year and 1.7 inches of snow.
Does Gurley get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gurley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 18, 1995. 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)