The Town FilesSumiton, Alabama
City in Walker County · population 2,444 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $180,700
- Household income
- $65,568
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 40.3
Sumiton is a city of 2,444 people in Walker County, Alabama. The median home is worth $180,700, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for cycling than 94% of Alabama towns, more vibrant than 76% of Alabama towns.
How Sumiton 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 Sumiton is worth $180,700, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $65,568, which is more affordable than 56% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $850 a month. 69.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sumiton | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $180,700 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $850 | $834 |
| Median household income | $65,568 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.9% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sumiton
| People | Sumiton | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.3% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.2% | 86.7% |
Weather in Sumiton
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 30.6°F. About 61.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 73 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sumiton since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 8.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 12 deaths and 90 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 25, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 27, 2011.
Severe weather in Walker County since 1996
Walker County has been included in 25 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 Walker County
Walker County had 18,709 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,692 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Sumiton itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Sumiton
2 public schools with 1,202 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumiton Elementary School | PK-4 | 708 | 15.7 |
| Sumiton Middle School | 5-8 | 494 | 18.3 |
Towns near Sumiton
- Dora, AL2.5 mi · 2,297 people · home $155,100
- Cordova, AL8.8 mi · 1,728 people · home $87,100
- Graysville, AL10.0 mi · 1,950 people · home $116,900
- Adamsville, AL11.0 mi · 4,366 people · home $145,700
- Mount Olive, AL11.3 mi · 4,427 people · home $224,000
- Brookside, AL11.8 mi · 1,253 people · home $107,400
- Parrish, AL13.5 mi · 982 people · home $56,800
- Mulga, AL14.0 mi · 784 people · home $63,100
Sumiton questions
Is Sumiton, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sumiton scores better for retirees than 16% of Alabama towns and quieter than 47%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.3).
How much does a house cost in Sumiton?
The median owner-occupied home in Sumiton is valued at $180,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,568, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $850 a month.
What is the weather like in Sumiton?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 30.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Sumiton get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sumiton 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)