The Town FilesOneonta, Alabama
City in Blount County · population 6,938 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $221,000
- Household income
- $53,980
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 42.8
Oneonta is a city of 6,938 people in Blount County, Alabama. The median home is worth $221,000, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more walkable than 80% of Alabama towns, better for retirees than 79% of Alabama towns.
How Oneonta 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 Oneonta is worth $221,000, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $53,980, which is more affordable than 11% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $638 a month. 60.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oneonta | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $221,000 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $638 | $834 |
| Median household income | $53,980 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 60.0% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Oneonta
| People | Oneonta | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.7% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.2% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Oneonta
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 32.9°F. About 57.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 52 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 65 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oneonta since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 24, 2001 about 3.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 62 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 30, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 9, 2024.
Severe weather in Blount County since 1996
Blount County has been included in 25 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 |
| July 10, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4555: Severe Thunderstorms |
| May 21, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4546: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Blount County
Blount County had 9,094 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,687 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Oneonta itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Oneonta
5 public schools with 2,042 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian School | PK-12 | 664 | 17.5 |
| Oneonta Elementary School | K-5 | 650 | 16.3 |
| Oneonta High School | 9-12 | 428 | 15.9 |
| Oneonta Middle School | 6-8 | 300 | 15.8 |
| Allgood Alternative School | 2-12 | — | — |
Towns near Oneonta
- Remlap, AL11.4 mi · 2,624 people · home $208,900
- Springville, AL14.3 mi · 4,786 people · home $284,300
- Argo, AL17.2 mi · 4,368 people · home $248,100
- Odenville, AL17.4 mi · 4,969 people · home $223,600
- Hanceville, AL17.7 mi · 3,217 people · home $169,800
- Clay, AL18.6 mi · 10,291 people · home $220,600
- Margaret, AL19.0 mi · 5,106 people · home $230,900
- Pinson, AL19.2 mi · 7,215 people · home $212,000
Oneonta questions
Is Oneonta, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oneonta scores better for retirees than 79% of Alabama towns and quieter than 31%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in Oneonta?
The median owner-occupied home in Oneonta is valued at $221,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,980, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $638 a month.
What is the weather like in Oneonta?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 32.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Oneonta get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oneonta 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)