The Town FilesThorsby, Alabama
City in Chilton County · population 2,064 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $188,300
- Household income
- $76,389
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 39.2
Thorsby is a city of 2,064 people in Chilton County, Alabama. The median home is worth $188,300, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for families than 81% of Alabama towns, better for first-time buyers than 79% of Alabama towns.
How Thorsby 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 Thorsby is worth $188,300, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $76,389, which is more affordable than 74% of Alabama towns. 72.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Thorsby | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $188,300 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | — | $834 |
| Median household income | $76,389 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 72.3% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Thorsby
| People | Thorsby | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.0% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 2.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 13.0% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 34.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 86.7% |
Weather in Thorsby
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 33.0°F. About 56.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 56 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 46 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thorsby since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 17, 1968 about 1.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 30 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 6, 1955.
Severe weather in Chilton County since 1996
Chilton County has been included in 24 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 |
| July 10, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4554: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Chilton County
Chilton County had 9,143 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,595 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Thorsby itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Thorsby
1 public school with 847 students, about 21.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thorsby High School | PK-12 | 847 | 21.2 |
Towns near Thorsby
- Jemison, AL3.8 mi · 2,642 people · home $170,000
- Clanton, AL7.7 mi · 8,768 people · home $166,300
- Maplesville, AL13.0 mi · 637 people · home $132,600
- Calera, AL14.3 mi · 16,494 people · home $235,300
- Wilton, AL14.7 mi · 587 people · home $162,100
- Shelby, AL15.3 mi · 940 people · home $158,200
- Montevallo, AL16.2 mi · 7,229 people · home $220,700
- Pea Ridge, AL19.6 mi · 841 people · home $98,000
Thorsby questions
Is Thorsby, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Thorsby scores better for retirees than 42% of Alabama towns and quieter than 67%. 14.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.2).
How much does a house cost in Thorsby?
The median owner-occupied home in Thorsby is valued at $188,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,389, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Thorsby?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 33.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Thorsby get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thorsby since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 17, 1968. 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)