The Town FilesSteele, Alabama
Town in St. Clair County · population 992 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $107,100
- Household income
- $72,386
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 32.5
Steele is a town of 992 people in St. Clair County, Alabama. The median home is worth $107,100, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks easier by car than 100% of Alabama towns, better for first-time buyers than 93% of Alabama towns, better for families than 89% of Alabama towns.
How Steele 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 Steele is worth $107,100, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $72,386, which is more affordable than 97% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $739 a month. 89.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Steele | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $107,100 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $739 | $834 |
| Median household income | $72,386 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.5% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.5% | — |
Who lives in Steele
| People | Steele | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.5 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.1% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 31.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.7% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.0% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 37.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 86.7% |
Weather in Steele
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 32.8°F. About 57.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 66 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 53 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Steele since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 24, 2001 about 8.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 12, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 25, 1961.
Severe weather in St. Clair County since 1996
St. Clair County has been included in 30 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 |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472: Covid-19 |
| April 26, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4362: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in St. Clair County
St. Clair County had 21,980 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,425 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Steele itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Steele
1 public school with 154 students, about 19.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steele Elementary School | PK-6 | 154 | 19.3 |
Towns near Steele
- Gallant, AL4.7 mi · 869 people · home $99,200
- Attalla, AL5.1 mi · 5,827 people · home $126,100
- Rainbow City, AL6.2 mi · 10,191 people · home $223,000
- Ivalee, AL7.1 mi · 946 people · home $140,600
- Ashville, AL8.6 mi · 2,346 people · home $204,900
- Altoona, AL9.4 mi · 948 people · home $114,100
- Egypt, AL9.4 mi · 845 people · home $207,600
- Walnut Grove, AL10.1 mi · 773 people · home $131,100
Steele questions
Is Steele, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Steele scores better for retirees than 50% of Alabama towns and quieter than 62%. 13.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.5).
How much does a house cost in Steele?
The median owner-occupied home in Steele is valued at $107,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,386, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $739 a month.
What is the weather like in Steele?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 32.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Steele get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Steele since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 24, 2001. 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)