The Town FilesValley Grande, Alabama
City in Dallas County · population 4,190 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $133,100
- Household income
- $58,929
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 46.4
Valley Grande is a city of 4,190 people in Dallas County, Alabama. The median home is worth $133,100, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks quieter than 73% of Alabama towns.
How Valley Grande 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 Valley Grande is worth $133,100, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $58,929, which is more affordable than 83% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $761 a month. 90.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Valley Grande | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $133,100 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $761 | $834 |
| Median household income | $58,929 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.2% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Valley Grande
| People | Valley Grande | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.4 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.8% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.3% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 86.7% |
Weather in Valley Grande
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 35.9°F. About 54.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 81 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 40 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valley Grande since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 15, 2025 about 9.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 74 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on February 18, 2009.
Severe weather in Dallas County since 1996
Dallas County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| January 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4684: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| December 10, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4573: Hurricane Zeta |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| May 21, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4546: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dallas County
Dallas County had 11,290 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,753 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Valley Grande itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Valley Grande
2 public schools with 568 students, about 19.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Grande Elementary School | PK-6 | 372 | 19.6 |
| William R Martin Middle School | 7-8 | 196 | 19.6 |
Towns near Valley Grande
- Selma, AL4.8 mi · 17,971 people · home $96,500
- Marion, AL19.4 mi · 3,176 people · home $108,700
Valley Grande questions
Is Valley Grande, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Valley Grande scores better for retirees than 51% of Alabama towns and quieter than 73%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.4).
How much does a house cost in Valley Grande?
The median owner-occupied home in Valley Grande is valued at $133,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,929, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $761 a month.
What is the weather like in Valley Grande?
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 35.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Valley Grande get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valley Grande since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 15, 2025. 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)