The Town FilesRainbow City, Alabama
City in Etowah County · population 10,191 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $223,000
- Household income
- $56,398
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 41.7
Rainbow City is a city of 10,191 people in Etowah County, Alabama. The median home is worth $223,000, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more vibrant than 89% of Alabama towns, more of a college town than 85% of Alabama towns, better for young professionals than 82% of Alabama towns.
How Rainbow 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 Rainbow City is worth $223,000, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $56,398, which is more affordable than 11% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $1,048 a month. 65.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rainbow City | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $223,000 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $1,048 | $834 |
| Median household income | $56,398 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 65.6% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in Rainbow City
| People | Rainbow City | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.0% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in Rainbow City
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 32.8°F. About 57.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 66 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 53 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rainbow City since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 15 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 7.1 miles from the town center and killed 13. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 22 deaths and 68 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 29, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 7, 1985.
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 Rainbow City itself the ACS puts it at 10.3%.
Public schools in Rainbow City
2 public schools with 1,357 students, about 17.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| John S Jones Elementary School | PK-5 | 734 | 15.6 |
| Rainbow Middle School | 6-8 | 623 | 19.5 |
Towns near Rainbow City
- Attalla, AL4.5 mi · 5,827 people · home $126,100
- Southside, AL4.6 mi · 9,426 people · home $226,500
- Gadsden, AL6.6 mi · 33,945 people · home $116,800
- Glencoe, AL8.7 mi · 5,372 people · home $206,100
- Hokes Bluff, AL13.4 mi · 4,446 people · home $196,400
- Alexandria, AL16.8 mi · 4,032 people · home $197,700
- Boaz, AL19.1 mi · 10,107 people · home $199,200
- Weaver, AL19.7 mi · 3,339 people · home $162,300
Rainbow City questions
Is Rainbow City, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rainbow City scores better for retirees than 67% of Alabama towns and quieter than 17%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in Rainbow City?
The median owner-occupied home in Rainbow City is valued at $223,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,398, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,048 a month.
What is the weather like in Rainbow City?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 32.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Rainbow City get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rainbow City 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)