The Town FilesNew Union, Alabama
Community in Etowah County · population 1,019 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $168,000
- Household income
- $43,462
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 37
- Median age
- 32.1
New Union is a community of 1,019 people in Etowah County, Alabama. The median home is worth $168,000, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more of a college town than 86% of Alabama towns, better for families than 73% of Alabama towns.
How New Union 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 New Union is worth $168,000, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $43,462, which is more affordable than 14% of Alabama towns. 86.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Union | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,000 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | — | $834 |
| Median household income | $43,462 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.5% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in New Union
| People | New Union | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.1 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 35.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.6% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.2% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 1.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 39.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in New Union
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 33.1°F. About 56.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 49 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 52 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Union since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 17 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 24, 2001 about 8.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 105 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 57 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 2, 2003.
Severe weather in Etowah County since 1996
Etowah County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| July 10, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4555: Severe Thunderstorms |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Etowah County
Etowah County had 33,010 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,564 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in New Union itself the ACS puts it at 12.1%.
Towns near New Union
- Bristow Cove, AL1.8 mi · 624 people · home —
- Egypt, AL5.4 mi · 845 people · home $207,600
- Walnut Grove, AL5.9 mi · 773 people · home $131,100
- Douglas, AL6.0 mi · 761 people · home $175,400
- Carlisle-Rockledge, AL6.1 mi · 2,167 people · home $115,900
- Boaz, AL6.1 mi · 10,107 people · home $199,200
- Sardis City, AL6.8 mi · 1,814 people · home $225,700
- Altoona, AL7.8 mi · 948 people · home $114,100
New Union questions
Is New Union, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Union scores better for retirees than 62% of Alabama towns and quieter than 53%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.1).
How much does a house cost in New Union?
The median owner-occupied home in New Union is valued at $168,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,462, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in New Union?
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 33.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does New Union get tornadoes?
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Union since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 24, 2001. 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)