The Town FilesSmoke Rise, Alabama
Community in Blount County · population 1,661 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $201,700
- Household income
- $85,882
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 46
- Median age
- 35.9
Smoke Rise is a community of 1,661 people in Blount County, Alabama. The median home is worth $201,700, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for families than 79% of Alabama towns.
How Smoke Rise 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 Smoke Rise is worth $201,700, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $85,882, which is more affordable than 83% of Alabama towns. 93.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Smoke Rise | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $201,700 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | — | $834 |
| Median household income | $85,882 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.3% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Smoke Rise
| People | Smoke Rise | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.5% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 38.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.3% | 86.7% |
Weather in Smoke Rise
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 29.7°F. About 59.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 72 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Smoke Rise since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 17 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 6.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 15 deaths and 100 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 30, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 9, 2023.
Severe weather in Blount County since 1996
Blount County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 |
| May 21, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4546: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Blount County
Blount County had 9,094 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,687 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Smoke Rise itself the ACS puts it at 8.6%.
Towns near Smoke Rise
- Warrior, AL4.5 mi · 3,224 people · home $149,800
- Hayden, AL4.7 mi · 1,342 people · home $230,700
- Trafford, AL6.2 mi · 613 people · home $116,500
- Kimberly, AL7.3 mi · 3,841 people · home $322,300
- Morris, AL9.3 mi · 2,259 people · home $241,400
- Locust Fork, AL10.2 mi · 1,192 people · home $181,400
- Garden City, AL10.3 mi · 528 people · home $108,700
- Dodge City, AL11.8 mi · 548 people · home $147,100
Smoke Rise questions
Is Smoke Rise, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Smoke Rise scores better for retirees than 27% of Alabama towns and quieter than 52%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.9).
How much does a house cost in Smoke Rise?
The median owner-occupied home in Smoke Rise is valued at $201,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,882, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Smoke Rise?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 29.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Smoke Rise get tornadoes?
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Smoke Rise 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)