The Town FilesValley Head, Alabama
Town in DeKalb County · population 577 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $59,800
- Household income
- $45,889
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 42.2
Valley Head is a town of 577 people in DeKalb County, Alabama. The median home is worth $59,800, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of Alabama towns, better for cycling than 98% of Alabama towns, better for first-time buyers than 96% of Alabama towns.
- #2 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Alabama
- #2 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Alabama
- #6 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Alabama
- #7 in 25 Small Towns in Alabama With the Cheapest Homes
- #18 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Alabama
- #23 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Alabama
How Valley Head 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 Head is worth $59,800, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $45,889, which is more affordable than 99% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $917 a month. 87.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Valley Head | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $59,800 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $917 | $834 |
| Median household income | $45,889 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.4% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Valley Head
| People | Valley Head | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 34.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.7% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 12.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 50.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 99.2% | 86.7% |
Weather in Valley Head
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 29.8°F. About 56.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.0 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 78 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valley Head since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 16 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on April 27, 2011 about 6.1 miles from the town center and killed 25. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 25 deaths and 62 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 10, 2025.
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 Valley Head itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Valley Head
1 public school with 492 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Head High School | PK-12 | 492 | 14.1 |
Towns near Valley Head
- Fort Payne, AL7.8 mi · 14,877 people · home $157,000
- Henagar, AL8.0 mi · 2,292 people · home $144,700
- Sylvania, AL10.3 mi · 1,790 people · home $161,500
- Ider, AL10.4 mi · 735 people · home $162,900
- Rainsville, AL12.9 mi · 5,505 people · home $230,400
- Pisgah, AL15.5 mi · 681 people · home $134,400
- Powell, AL15.7 mi · 901 people · home $116,400
- Summerville, GA16.5 mi · 4,435 people · home $99,000
Valley Head questions
Is Valley Head, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Valley Head scores better for retirees than 95% of Alabama towns and quieter than 93%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.2).
How much does a house cost in Valley Head?
The median owner-occupied home in Valley Head is valued at $59,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,889, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $917 a month.
What is the weather like in Valley Head?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 29.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.2 inches of precipitation a year and 5.0 inches of snow.
Does Valley Head get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valley Head 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)