The Town FilesScottsboro, Alabama
City in Jackson County · population 15,578 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $190,400
- Household income
- $53,929
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 41.2
Scottsboro is a city of 15,578 people in Jackson County, Alabama. The median home is worth $190,400, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks hipper than 86% of Alabama towns, more walkable than 83% of Alabama towns, better for young professionals than 82% of Alabama towns.
How Scottsboro 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 Scottsboro is worth $190,400, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $53,929, which is more affordable than 23% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $830 a month. 68.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Scottsboro | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $190,400 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $830 | $834 |
| Median household income | $53,929 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 68.2% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Scottsboro
| People | Scottsboro | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.6% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.6% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 23.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.0% | 86.7% |
Weather in Scottsboro
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 29.2°F. About 59.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.3 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 57 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 75 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Scottsboro since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 4.1 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 10, 2009.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson County has been included in 28 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 Jackson County
Jackson County had 15,446 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,421 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Scottsboro itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Scottsboro
6 public schools with 3,016 students, about 17.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottsboro High School | 9-12 | 734 | 16.7 |
| Skyline High School | PK-12 | 586 | 19.5 |
| Caldwell Elementary School | 1-3 | 543 | 15.5 |
| Collins Intermediate School | 4-6 | 532 | 19.0 |
| Scottsboro Junior High School | 7-8 | 354 | 17.7 |
| Thurston T Nelson Elementary School | PK-K | 267 | 14.1 |
Towns near Scottsboro
- Rainsville, AL15.9 mi · 5,505 people · home $230,400
- New Hope, AL22.0 mi · 2,889 people · home $163,700
- Guntersville, AL22.4 mi · 8,553 people · home $324,800
- Owens Cross Roads, AL23.5 mi · 2,594 people · home $227,000
- Fort Payne, AL24.2 mi · 14,877 people · home $157,000
- Albertville, AL27.9 mi · 22,386 people · home $188,400
Scottsboro questions
Is Scottsboro, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Scottsboro scores better for retirees than 64% of Alabama towns and quieter than 38%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.2).
How much does a house cost in Scottsboro?
The median owner-occupied home in Scottsboro is valued at $190,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,929, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $830 a month.
What is the weather like in Scottsboro?
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 29.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.7 inches of precipitation a year and 1.3 inches of snow.
Does Scottsboro get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Scottsboro 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)