The Town FilesParrish, Alabama
Town in Walker County · population 982 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $56,800
- Household income
- $32,798
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 34.0
Parrish is a town of 982 people in Walker County, Alabama. The median home is worth $56,800, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks quieter than 97% of Alabama towns, better for first-time buyers than 92% of Alabama towns, more walkable than 77% of Alabama towns.
How Parrish 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 Parrish is worth $56,800, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $32,798, which is more affordable than 95% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $1,005 a month. 52.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Parrish | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $56,800 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $1,005 | $834 |
| Median household income | $32,798 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 52.7% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Parrish
| People | Parrish | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.0 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.6% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.4% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.8% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 27.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Parrish
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 30.6°F. About 61.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 73 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Parrish since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 0.8 miles from the town center and killed 9. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 13 deaths and 197 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 27, 2011.
Severe weather in Walker County since 1996
Walker County has been included in 25 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 Walker County
Walker County had 18,709 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,692 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Parrish itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Parrish
1 public school with 308 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parrish ElementaryMiddle School | PK-8 | 308 | 14.7 |
Towns near Parrish
- Cordova, AL5.1 mi · 1,728 people · home $87,100
- Oakman, AL6.4 mi · 771 people · home $92,600
- Jasper, AL8.2 mi · 14,572 people · home $215,700
- Dora, AL11.4 mi · 2,297 people · home $155,100
- Sumiton, AL13.5 mi · 2,444 people · home $180,700
- Carbon Hill, AL17.9 mi · 1,769 people · home $61,100
- Berry, AL19.5 mi · 1,216 people · home $98,000
- Adamsville, AL19.9 mi · 4,366 people · home $145,700
Parrish questions
Is Parrish, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Parrish scores better for retirees than 3% of Alabama towns and quieter than 97%. 11.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.0).
How much does a house cost in Parrish?
The median owner-occupied home in Parrish is valued at $56,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $32,798, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $1,005 a month.
What is the weather like in Parrish?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 30.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Parrish get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Parrish since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 27, 2011. 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)