The Town FilesSheffield, Alabama
City in Colbert County · population 9,403 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $133,800
- Household income
- $39,733
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 38
- Median age
- 45.8
Sheffield is a city of 9,403 people in Colbert County, Alabama. The median home is worth $133,800, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Alabama towns, hipper than 96% of Alabama towns, more vibrant than 91% of Alabama towns.
How Sheffield 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 Sheffield is worth $133,800, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $39,733, which is more affordable than 27% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $829 a month. 60.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sheffield | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $133,800 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $829 | $834 |
| Median household income | $39,733 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 60.2% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Sheffield
| People | Sheffield | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.8 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.6% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.4% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.6% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.0% | 86.7% |
Weather in Sheffield
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 29.4°F. About 58.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 67 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sheffield since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 4, 1988 about 6.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 67 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 72 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on February 21, 2005.
Severe weather in Colbert County since 1996
Colbert County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| May 21, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4546: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Colbert County
Colbert County had 24,495 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,010 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Sheffield itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Sheffield
4 public schools with 993 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WA Threadgill Primary School | PK-2 | 323 | 15.4 |
| Sheffield High School | 9-12 | 281 | 13.4 |
| L E Willson Elementary School | 3-6 | 240 | 15.0 |
| Sheffield Junior High School | 7-8 | 149 | 16.6 |
Towns near Sheffield
- Tuscumbia, AL2.7 mi · 9,054 people · home $196,700
- Muscle Shoals, AL3.7 mi · 16,275 people · home $199,700
- Florence, AL5.4 mi · 40,184 people · home $196,300
- Underwood-Petersville, AL8.2 mi · 3,051 people · home $142,900
- Russellville, AL17.5 mi · 10,855 people · home $123,800
- Iuka, MS28.6 mi · 3,139 people · home $124,700
- Moulton, AL30.0 mi · 3,398 people · home $123,900
Sheffield questions
Is Sheffield, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sheffield scores better for retirees than 51% of Alabama towns and quieter than 22%. 25.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.8).
How much does a house cost in Sheffield?
The median owner-occupied home in Sheffield is valued at $133,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,733, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $829 a month.
What is the weather like in Sheffield?
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 29.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Sheffield get tornadoes?
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sheffield 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)