The Town FilesRainsville, Alabama
City in DeKalb County · population 5,505 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $230,400
- Household income
- $74,046
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 43
- Median age
- 49.4
Rainsville is a city of 5,505 people in DeKalb County, Alabama. The median home is worth $230,400, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more of a college town than 91% of Alabama towns, better for retirees than 82% of Alabama towns, better transit than 82% of Alabama towns.
How Rainsville 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 Rainsville is worth $230,400, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $74,046, which is more affordable than 39% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $519 a month. 89.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rainsville | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $230,400 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $519 | $834 |
| Median household income | $74,046 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.3% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.9% | — |
Who lives in Rainsville
| People | Rainsville | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.4 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.6% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.0% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.0% | 86.7% |
Weather in Rainsville
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 31.5°F. About 58.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.8 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 60 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 57 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
43 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rainsville since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 24 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on April 27, 2011 about 0.6 miles from the town center and killed 25. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 28 deaths and 133 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 22, 2005.
Severe weather in DeKalb County since 1996
DeKalb County has been included in 34 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 DeKalb County
DeKalb County had 23,367 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,391 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Rainsville itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Rainsville
3 public schools with 1,218 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plainview School | PK-12 | 1,218 | 16.2 |
| Dekalb Technical Center | 10-12 | — | — |
| Dekalb Annex School | K-12 | — | — |
Towns near Rainsville
- Fort Payne, AL8.8 mi · 14,877 people · home $157,000
- Scottsboro, AL15.9 mi · 15,578 people · home $190,400
- Guntersville, AL25.3 mi · 8,553 people · home $324,800
- Centre, AL25.4 mi · 3,587 people · home $158,400
- Albertville, AL26.7 mi · 22,386 people · home $188,400
- Boaz, AL27.3 mi · 10,107 people · home $199,200
- Summerville, GA27.8 mi · 4,435 people · home $99,000
Rainsville questions
Is Rainsville, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rainsville scores better for retirees than 82% of Alabama towns and quieter than 38%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.4).
How much does a house cost in Rainsville?
The median owner-occupied home in Rainsville is valued at $230,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,046, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $519 a month.
What is the weather like in Rainsville?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 31.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.0 inches of precipitation a year and 2.8 inches of snow.
Does Rainsville get tornadoes?
43 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rainsville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF5 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)