The Town FilesRed Bay, Alabama
City in Franklin County · population 3,232 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $108,200
- Household income
- $37,473
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 46.8
Red Bay is a city of 3,232 people in Franklin County, Alabama. The median home is worth $108,200, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for retirees than 83% of Alabama towns, easier by car than 79% of Alabama towns, quieter than 75% of Alabama towns.
How Red Bay 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 Red Bay is worth $108,200, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $37,473, which is more affordable than 50% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $542 a month. 58.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Red Bay | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $108,200 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $542 | $834 |
| Median household income | $37,473 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 58.3% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Red Bay
| People | Red Bay | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.8 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.9% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.2% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.1% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 1.5% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 19.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.3% | 86.7% |
Weather in Red Bay
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 29.9°F. About 61.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 56 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 67 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Red Bay since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 4, 1988 about 9.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on October 25, 1997.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 22 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 |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472: Covid-19 |
| April 17, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4426: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 10,956 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,266 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Red Bay itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Red Bay
2 public schools with 769 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Bay Elementary | PK-6 | 432 | 16.0 |
| Red Bay High School | 7-12 | 337 | 15.3 |
Towns near Red Bay
- Fulton, MS19.3 mi · 4,542 people · home $158,600
- Hamilton, AL22.6 mi · 7,042 people · home $106,300
- Russellville, AL23.8 mi · 10,855 people · home $123,800
- Iuka, MS25.9 mi · 3,139 people · home $124,700
- Booneville, MS29.2 mi · 9,126 people · home $136,700
- Baldwyn, MS29.2 mi · 3,071 people · home $98,600
Red Bay questions
Is Red Bay, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Red Bay scores better for retirees than 83% of Alabama towns and quieter than 75%. 19.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.8).
How much does a house cost in Red Bay?
The median owner-occupied home in Red Bay is valued at $108,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,473, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $542 a month.
What is the weather like in Red Bay?
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 29.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Red Bay get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Red Bay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 4, 1988. 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)