The Town FilesSylvania, Alabama
Town in DeKalb County · population 1,790 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $161,500
- Household income
- $56,161
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 49
- Median age
- 34.3
Sylvania is a town of 1,790 people in DeKalb County, Alabama. The median home is worth $161,500, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for retirees than 82% of Alabama towns, better for families than 81% of Alabama towns, more of a college town than 79% of Alabama towns.
How Sylvania 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 Sylvania is worth $161,500, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $56,161, which is more affordable than 50% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $692 a month. 66.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sylvania | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,500 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $692 | $834 |
| Median household income | $56,161 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 66.8% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Sylvania
| People | Sylvania | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.3 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.7% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.3% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.6% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.9% | — |
| Work from home | 3.1% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 86.7% |
Weather in Sylvania
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 31.5°F. About 58.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.0 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 60 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 57 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
49 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sylvania since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 26 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on April 27, 2011 about 1.5 miles from the town center and killed 25. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 38 deaths and 143 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 19, 1973.
Severe weather in DeKalb County since 1996
DeKalb County has been included in 34 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 DeKalb County
DeKalb County had 23,367 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,391 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Sylvania itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Sylvania
1 public school with 939 students, about 16.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvania School | PK-12 | 939 | 16.8 |
Towns near Sylvania
- Rainsville, AL5.0 mi · 5,505 people · home $230,400
- Powell, AL5.7 mi · 901 people · home $116,400
- Henagar, AL6.3 mi · 2,292 people · home $144,700
- Pisgah, AL8.8 mi · 681 people · home $134,400
- Fyffe, AL9.7 mi · 967 people · home $113,300
- Fort Payne, AL9.8 mi · 14,877 people · home $157,000
- Section, AL10.3 mi · 756 people · home $156,000
- Valley Head, AL10.3 mi · 577 people · home $59,800
Sylvania questions
Is Sylvania, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sylvania scores better for retirees than 82% of Alabama towns and quieter than 50%. 12.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.3).
How much does a house cost in Sylvania?
The median owner-occupied home in Sylvania is valued at $161,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,161, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $692 a month.
What is the weather like in Sylvania?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 31.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.0 inches of precipitation a year and 3.0 inches of snow.
Does Sylvania get tornadoes?
49 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sylvania since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF5 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)