The Town FilesSand Rock, Alabama
Town in Cherokee County · population 591 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $218,800
- Household income
- $73,333
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 36.8
Sand Rock is a town of 591 people in Cherokee County, Alabama. The median home is worth $218,800, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better transit than 98% of Alabama towns, better for a vacation home than 97% of Alabama towns.
How Sand Rock 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 Sand Rock is worth $218,800, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $73,333, which is more affordable than 45% of Alabama towns. 95.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sand Rock | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $218,800 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | — | $834 |
| Median household income | $73,333 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 95.8% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Sand Rock
| People | Sand Rock | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.8 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 32.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.1% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in Sand Rock
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 28.7°F. About 57.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 77 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sand Rock since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 24, 2010 about 4.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 2, 2003.
Severe weather in Cherokee County since 1996
Cherokee County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| December 10, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4573: Hurricane Zeta |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Cherokee County
Cherokee County had 5,352 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,658 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Sand Rock itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Sand Rock
1 public school with 804 students, about 18.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sand Rock High School | PK-12 | 804 | 18.3 |
Towns near Sand Rock
- Leesburg, AL3.7 mi · 911 people · home $182,500
- Collinsville, AL6.1 mi · 2,059 people · home $59,000
- Centre, AL7.8 mi · 3,587 people · home $158,400
- Cedar Bluff, AL10.4 mi · 1,845 people · home $204,800
- Coats Bend, AL12.4 mi · 1,318 people · home $149,600
- Crossville, AL13.6 mi · 1,830 people · home $129,900
- Lookout Mountain, AL13.7 mi · 1,484 people · home $158,300
- Ballplay, AL14.5 mi · 1,437 people · home $145,300
Sand Rock questions
Is Sand Rock, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sand Rock scores better for retirees than 36% of Alabama towns and quieter than 59%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.8).
How much does a house cost in Sand Rock?
The median owner-occupied home in Sand Rock is valued at $218,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,333, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Sand Rock?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 28.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Sand Rock get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sand Rock since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 24, 2010. 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)