The Town FilesPhenix City, Alabama
City in Russell County · population 38,816 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $170,300
- Household income
- $50,053
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 45
- Median age
- 35.6
Phenix City is a city of 38,816 people in Russell County, Alabama. The median home is worth $170,300, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more walkable than 94% of Alabama towns, more vibrant than 92% of Alabama towns, better transit than 91% of Alabama towns.
How Phenix 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 Phenix City is worth $170,300, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $50,053, which is more affordable than 27% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $967 a month. 52.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Phenix City | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $170,300 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $967 | $834 |
| Median household income | $50,053 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 52.4% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Phenix City
| People | Phenix City | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.2% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.5% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 11.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 10.6% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.3% | 86.7% |
Weather in Phenix City
July highs average 92.9°F and January lows 38.2°F. About 48.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 80 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 28 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Phenix City since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 18 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on March 3, 2019 about 8.4 miles from the town center and killed 23. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 33 deaths and 679 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 14, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 73 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on November 1, 1997.
Severe weather in Russell County since 1996
Russell County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| October 12, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3407: Hurricane Michael |
Jobs and pay in Russell County
Russell County had 14,057 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,497 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Phenix City itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Phenix City
13 public schools with 7,717 students, about 18.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High School | 9-12 | 1,568 | 20.9 |
| Phenix City Intermediate School | 6-7 | 1,057 | 19.6 |
| Ridgecrest Elementary School | PK-5 | 762 | 19.1 |
| Phenix City Elementary School | PK-5 | 657 | 17.3 |
| Westview Elementary School | PK-5 | 557 | 16.4 |
| Sherwood Elementary School | PK-5 | 537 | 19.9 |
| Lakewood Primary School | K-2 | 517 | 17.8 |
| South Girard School | 8-8 | 508 | 16.9 |
| Central Freshman Academy | 9-9 | 508 | 17.5 |
| Lakewood Elementary School | 3-5 | 470 | 21.4 |
| Ladonia Elementary School | PK-5 | 441 | 17.0 |
| Meadowlane Elementary School | PK-5 | 135 | 15.0 |
Towns near Phenix City
- Ladonia, AL3.5 mi · 3,074 people · home $102,000
- Smiths Station, AL6.2 mi · 5,384 people · home $203,300
- Columbus, GA9.9 mi · 206,922 people · home $193,900
- Cusseta-Chattahoochee County unified government, GA16.0 mi · 9,565 people · home $102,700
- Opelika, AL24.8 mi · 30,995 people · home $241,800
- Valley, AL26.0 mi · 10,529 people · home $140,800
- Auburn, AL28.8 mi · 76,143 people · home $364,800
- Lanett, AL29.8 mi · 6,970 people · home $95,600
Phenix City questions
Is Phenix City, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Phenix City scores better for retirees than 5% of Alabama towns and quieter than 3%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.6).
How much does a house cost in Phenix City?
The median owner-occupied home in Phenix City is valued at $170,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,053, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $967 a month.
What is the weather like in Phenix City?
July highs average 92.9°F and January lows 38.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Phenix City get tornadoes?
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Phenix City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on March 3, 2019. 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)