The Town FilesRoanoke, Alabama
City in Randolph County · population 5,311 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $154,300
- Household income
- $47,105
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 42.5
Roanoke is a city of 5,311 people in Randolph County, Alabama. The median home is worth $154,300, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks hipper than 70% of Alabama towns.
How Roanoke 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 Roanoke is worth $154,300, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $47,105, which is more affordable than 32% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $666 a month. 67.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Roanoke | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,300 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $666 | $834 |
| Median household income | $47,105 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.2% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Roanoke
| People | Roanoke | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.3% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.5% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.5% | 86.7% |
Weather in Roanoke
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 32.2°F. About 53.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 64 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 73 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Roanoke since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on January 26, 1974 about 4.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on March 19, 2003.
Severe weather in Randolph County since 1996
Randolph County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| May 5, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4710: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 26, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4596: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| December 10, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4573: Hurricane Zeta |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
Jobs and pay in Randolph County
Randolph County had 4,883 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,183 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Roanoke itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Roanoke
4 public schools with 1,591 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knight Enloe Elementary School | PK-3 | 506 | 17.4 |
| Handley Middle School | 4-8 | 497 | 18.4 |
| Handley High School | 9-12 | 424 | 15.7 |
| Rock Mills Junior High School | PK-8 | 164 | 13.7 |
Towns near Roanoke
- La Fayette, AL17.1 mi · 2,684 people · home $85,900
- LaGrange, GA20.8 mi · 30,858 people · home $216,300
- West Point, GA21.6 mi · 3,719 people · home $199,500
- Lanett, AL21.9 mi · 6,970 people · home $95,600
- Valley, AL25.7 mi · 10,529 people · home $140,800
- Hogansville, GA27.0 mi · 3,267 people · home $182,400
Roanoke questions
Is Roanoke, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Roanoke scores better for retirees than 64% of Alabama towns and quieter than 58%. 24.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Roanoke?
The median owner-occupied home in Roanoke is valued at $154,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,105, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $666 a month.
What is the weather like in Roanoke?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 32.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Roanoke get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Roanoke since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on January 26, 1974. 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)