The Town FilesValley, Alabama
City in Chambers County · population 10,529 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $140,800
- Household income
- $51,661
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 34.1
Valley is a city of 10,529 people in Chambers County, Alabama. The median home is worth $140,800, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better transit than 96% of Alabama towns, more walkable than 92% of Alabama towns, more vibrant than 81% of Alabama towns.
How Valley 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 is worth $140,800, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $51,661, which is more affordable than 62% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $1,016 a month. 67.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Valley | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $140,800 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $1,016 | $834 |
| Median household income | $51,661 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.5% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.8% | — |
Who lives in Valley
| People | Valley | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.1 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.1% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.9% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 86.7% |
Weather in Valley
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 32.0°F. About 52.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 57 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 56 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valley since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 26, 2023 about 6.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 28 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 19, 2006.
Severe weather in Chambers County since 1996
Chambers County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 |
| January 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4684: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| May 21, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4546: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Chambers County
Chambers County had 9,087 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,152 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Valley itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Valley
6 public schools with 3,238 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax Elementary School | PK-5 | 674 | 19.8 |
| Beulah Elementary School | PK-6 | 670 | 14.3 |
| Valley High School | 9-12 | 656 | 16.0 |
| W F Burns Middle School | 6-8 | 516 | 16.6 |
| Beulah High School | 7-12 | 505 | 13.3 |
| Bob HardingShawmut Elementary | PK-2 | 217 | 16.7 |
Towns near Valley
- Lanett, AL3.8 mi · 6,970 people · home $95,600
- West Point, GA6.6 mi · 3,719 people · home $199,500
- La Fayette, AL14.2 mi · 2,684 people · home $85,900
- Opelika, AL15.4 mi · 30,995 people · home $241,800
- LaGrange, GA17.2 mi · 30,858 people · home $216,300
- Smiths Station, AL20.3 mi · 5,384 people · home $203,300
- Auburn, AL22.8 mi · 76,143 people · home $364,800
- Ladonia, AL24.7 mi · 3,074 people · home $102,000
Valley questions
Is Valley, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Valley scores better for retirees than 7% of Alabama towns and quieter than 16%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.1).
How much does a house cost in Valley?
The median owner-occupied home in Valley is valued at $140,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,661, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,016 a month.
What is the weather like in Valley?
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 32.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Valley get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Valley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 26, 2023. 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)