The Town FilesMuscle Shoals, Alabama
City in Colbert County · population 16,275 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $199,700
- Household income
- $75,894
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 42
- Median age
- 38.0
Muscle Shoals is a city of 16,275 people in Colbert County, Alabama. The median home is worth $199,700, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more vibrant than 94% of Alabama towns, more walkable than 84% of Alabama towns, more upscale than 81% of Alabama towns.
How Muscle Shoals 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 Muscle Shoals is worth $199,700, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $75,894, which is more affordable than 69% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $1,029 a month. 67.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Muscle Shoals | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $199,700 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $1,029 | $834 |
| Median household income | $75,894 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.1% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Muscle Shoals
| People | Muscle Shoals | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.0% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 86.7% |
Weather in Muscle Shoals
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 29.4°F. About 58.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 67 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
42 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Muscle Shoals since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 4, 1988 about 4.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 60 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 75 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on February 21, 2005.
Severe weather in Colbert County since 1996
Colbert County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| May 21, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4546: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Colbert County
Colbert County had 24,495 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,010 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Muscle Shoals itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Muscle Shoals
7 public schools with 2,937 students, about 17.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle Shoals High School | 9-12 | 874 | 20.3 |
| Muscle Shoals Middle School | 6-8 | 638 | 16.4 |
| McBride Elementary School | 3-5 | 631 | 17.5 |
| Howell Graves Preschool | PK-K | 336 | 15.3 |
| Webster Elementary School | 1-2 | 232 | 14.5 |
| Highland Park Elementary School | 1-2 | 226 | 15.1 |
| Muscle Shoals Career Academy | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Muscle Shoals
- Sheffield, AL3.7 mi · 9,403 people · home $133,800
- Tuscumbia, AL4.2 mi · 9,054 people · home $196,700
- Florence, AL6.2 mi · 40,184 people · home $196,300
- Underwood-Petersville, AL9.9 mi · 3,051 people · home $142,900
- Russellville, AL17.2 mi · 10,855 people · home $123,800
- Moulton, AL26.6 mi · 3,398 people · home $123,900
Muscle Shoals questions
Is Muscle Shoals, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Muscle Shoals scores better for retirees than 31% of Alabama towns and quieter than 23%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Muscle Shoals?
The median owner-occupied home in Muscle Shoals is valued at $199,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,894, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,029 a month.
What is the weather like in Muscle Shoals?
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 29.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Muscle Shoals get tornadoes?
42 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Muscle Shoals since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 4, 1988. 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)