The Town FilesUnderwood-Petersville, Alabama
Community in Lauderdale County · population 3,051 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $142,900
- Household income
- $48,219
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 89°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 42.1
Underwood-Petersville is a community of 3,051 people in Lauderdale County, Alabama. The median home is worth $142,900, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for retirees than 92% of Alabama towns, better for young professionals than 89% of Alabama towns, more vibrant than 87% of Alabama towns.
How Underwood-Petersville 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 Underwood-Petersville is worth $142,900, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $48,219, which is more affordable than 45% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $820 a month. 78.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Underwood-Petersville | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $142,900 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $820 | $834 |
| Median household income | $48,219 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 78.3% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Underwood-Petersville
| People | Underwood-Petersville | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.4% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.5% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 86.7% |
Weather in Underwood-Petersville
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 31.2°F. About 57.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 62 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Underwood-Petersville since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 24, 1967 about 3.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 5, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 74 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on February 21, 2005.
Severe weather in Lauderdale County since 1996
Lauderdale County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| May 5, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4710: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 Lauderdale County
Lauderdale County had 30,845 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,767 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Underwood-Petersville itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Towns near Underwood-Petersville
- Florence, AL3.8 mi · 40,184 people · home $196,300
- Sheffield, AL8.2 mi · 9,403 people · home $133,800
- Muscle Shoals, AL9.9 mi · 16,275 people · home $199,700
- Tuscumbia, AL10.9 mi · 9,054 people · home $196,700
- Russellville, AL25.6 mi · 10,855 people · home $123,800
- Iuka, MS28.7 mi · 3,139 people · home $124,700
Underwood-Petersville questions
Is Underwood-Petersville, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Underwood-Petersville scores better for retirees than 92% of Alabama towns and quieter than 21%. 25.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Underwood-Petersville?
The median owner-occupied home in Underwood-Petersville is valued at $142,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,219, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $820 a month.
What is the weather like in Underwood-Petersville?
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 31.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.6 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Underwood-Petersville get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Underwood-Petersville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 24, 1967. 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)