The Town FilesTalladega, Alabama
City in Talladega County · population 15,861 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $121,900
- Household income
- $44,198
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 40.9
Talladega is a city of 15,861 people in Talladega County, Alabama. The median home is worth $121,900, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Alabama towns, more walkable than 93% of Alabama towns, better transit than 93% of Alabama towns.
How Talladega 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 Talladega is worth $121,900, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $44,198, which is more affordable than 56% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $776 a month. 55.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Talladega | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $121,900 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $776 | $834 |
| Median household income | $44,198 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 55.4% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Talladega
| People | Talladega | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.6% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.6% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.3% | 86.7% |
Weather in Talladega
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 30.6°F. About 56.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 62 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 71 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Talladega since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 27, 1973 about 3.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 3.75 inches on April 5, 2017.
Severe weather in Talladega County since 1996
Talladega 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 |
| December 10, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4573: Hurricane Zeta |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Talladega County
Talladega County had 31,690 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,301 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Talladega itself the ACS puts it at 12.6%.
Public schools in Talladega
12 public schools with 2,033 students, about 18.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talladega High School | 9-12 | 448 | 22.4 |
| C L Salter Elementary School | 1-3 | 350 | 16.7 |
| Stemley Road Elementary School | PK-6 | 346 | 17.3 |
| Evelyn D Houston Elementary School | 4-6 | 338 | 18.8 |
| Zora Ellis Junior High School | 7-8 | 213 | 16.4 |
| Raymond L Young Elementary School | PK-K | 195 | 15.0 |
| Talladega County Central High | 7-12 | 143 | 20.4 |
| E H Gentry Technical Facility | 7-12 | — | — |
| Helen Keller School | K-12 | — | — |
| Alabama School For Blind | K-12 | — | — |
| Talladega Career Technical Center | 9-12 | — | — |
| Alabama School For Deaf | K-12 | — | — |
Towns near Talladega
- Lincoln, AL10.4 mi · 6,845 people · home $187,200
- Pell City, AL13.0 mi · 12,939 people · home $249,600
- Childersburg, AL16.9 mi · 4,754 people · home $133,500
- Oxford, AL17.5 mi · 22,069 people · home $170,900
- Sylacauga, AL19.6 mi · 12,578 people · home $161,200
- West End-Cobb Town, AL19.9 mi · 3,128 people · home $83,900
- Anniston, AL23.6 mi · 21,564 people · home $158,800
- Saks, AL23.9 mi · 9,956 people · home $116,400
Talladega questions
Is Talladega, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Talladega scores better for retirees than 14% of Alabama towns and quieter than 7%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Talladega?
The median owner-occupied home in Talladega is valued at $121,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,198, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $776 a month.
What is the weather like in Talladega?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 30.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Talladega get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Talladega since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 27, 1973. 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)