The Town FilesPell City, Alabama
City in St. Clair County · population 12,939 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $249,600
- Household income
- $68,638
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 42.0
Pell City is a city of 12,939 people in St. Clair County, Alabama. The median home is worth $249,600, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for a vacation home than 90% of Alabama towns, more upscale than 80% of Alabama towns, more vibrant than 77% of Alabama towns.
How Pell City 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 Pell City is worth $249,600, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $68,638, which is more affordable than 19% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $1,099 a month. 68.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pell City | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $249,600 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $1,099 | $834 |
| Median household income | $68,638 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 68.0% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Pell City
| People | Pell City | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.9% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.8% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 10.6% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in Pell City
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 32.9°F. About 52.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 65 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pell City since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on January 10, 1975 about 2.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 75 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 29, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 5, 2017.
Severe weather in St. Clair County since 1996
St. Clair County has been included in 30 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 |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472: Covid-19 |
| April 26, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4362: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in St. Clair County
St. Clair County had 21,980 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,425 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Pell City itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Public schools in Pell City
8 public schools with 4,152 students, about 17.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pell City High School | 9-12 | 1,215 | 17.9 |
| Duran Junior High School | 7-8 | 628 | 18.5 |
| Williams Intermediate School | 5-6 | 589 | 18.4 |
| Walter M Kennedy School | K-4 | 456 | 16.9 |
| Coosa Valley Elementary School | PK-4 | 454 | 15.7 |
| Iola Roberts Elementary School | K-4 | 407 | 16.3 |
| Eden Elementary School | PK-4 | 403 | 17.5 |
| Legacy Center | PK-PK | — | — |
Towns near Pell City
- Lincoln, AL7.9 mi · 6,845 people · home $187,200
- Talladega, AL13.0 mi · 15,861 people · home $121,900
- Odenville, AL13.4 mi · 4,969 people · home $223,600
- Moody, AL13.6 mi · 13,170 people · home $237,500
- Margaret, AL13.9 mi · 5,106 people · home $230,900
- Argo, AL16.9 mi · 4,368 people · home $248,100
- Leeds, AL17.7 mi · 12,324 people · home $224,600
- Springville, AL17.8 mi · 4,786 people · home $284,300
Pell City questions
Is Pell City, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pell City scores better for retirees than 49% of Alabama towns and quieter than 35%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Pell City?
The median owner-occupied home in Pell City is valued at $249,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,638, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,099 a month.
What is the weather like in Pell City?
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 32.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Pell City get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pell City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on January 10, 1975. 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)