The Town FilesLeeds, Alabama
City in Jefferson County · population 12,324 (2020 Census) · spans 3 counties
- Median home
- $224,600
- Household income
- $69,737
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 39.3
Leeds is a city of 12,324 people in Jefferson County, Alabama. The median home is worth $224,600, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more walkable than 86% of Alabama towns, more upscale than 86% of Alabama towns, more vibrant than 80% of Alabama towns.
How Leeds 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 Leeds is worth $224,600, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $69,737, which is more affordable than 37% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $1,058 a month. 72.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Leeds | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $224,600 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $1,058 | $834 |
| Median household income | $69,737 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 72.0% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Leeds
| People | Leeds | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.7% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 27.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in Leeds
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 34.9°F. About 56.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 65 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 47 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Leeds since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 4, 1977 about 8.3 miles from the town center and killed 22. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 71 deaths and 584 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 26, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 21, 1959.
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 Leeds itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Leeds
4 public schools with 2,244 students, about 18.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leeds Elementary School | 2-5 | 635 | 22.7 |
| Leeds High School | 9-12 | 619 | 17.7 |
| Leeds Primary School | PK-1 | 529 | 17.1 |
| Leeds Middle School | 6-8 | 461 | 17.7 |
Towns near Leeds
- Irondale, AL5.1 mi · 13,497 people · home $255,800
- Moody, AL5.9 mi · 13,170 people · home $237,500
- Trussville, AL7.5 mi · 26,123 people · home $370,300
- Grayson Valley, AL8.0 mi · 5,982 people · home $148,400
- Center Point, AL9.3 mi · 16,406 people · home $151,700
- Brook Highland, AL10.0 mi · 7,406 people · home $427,400
- Mountain Brook, AL10.1 mi · 22,461 people · home $916,300
- Clay, AL10.6 mi · 10,291 people · home $220,600
Leeds questions
Is Leeds, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Leeds scores better for retirees than 69% of Alabama towns and quieter than 36%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Leeds?
The median owner-occupied home in Leeds is valued at $224,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,737, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,058 a month.
What is the weather like in Leeds?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 34.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Leeds get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Leeds since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 4, 1977. 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)