The Town FilesVandiver, Alabama
Community in Shelby County · population 1,084 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $104,600
- Household income
- $49,783
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 48.4
Vandiver is a community of 1,084 people in Shelby County, Alabama. The median home is worth $104,600, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks quieter than 98% of Alabama towns, better for retirees than 97% of Alabama towns, better for first-time buyers than 73% of Alabama towns.
- #4 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Alabama
- #6 in The 21 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Alabama With Mild Winters
- #8 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Alabama
- #13 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Alabama
- #17 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Alabama
How Vandiver 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 Vandiver is worth $104,600, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $49,783, which is more affordable than 89% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $978 a month. 67.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Vandiver | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $104,600 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $978 | $834 |
| Median household income | $49,783 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.5% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1995 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Vandiver
| People | Vandiver | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.4 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 15.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.2% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.9% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.3% | 86.7% |
Weather in Vandiver
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 34.9°F. About 56.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 65 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 47 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vandiver since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 25, 2021 about 0.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 78 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 29, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 21, 1959.
Severe weather in Shelby County since 1996
Shelby County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| December 21, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4632: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 26, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4596: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Shelby County
Shelby County had 85,169 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,772 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Vandiver itself the ACS puts it at 0.2%.
Towns near Vandiver
- Dunnavant, AL2.6 mi · 936 people · home $193,100
- Sterrett, AL4.1 mi · 706 people · home —
- Shoal Creek, AL5.1 mi · 1,668 people · home $762,500
- Westover, AL6.3 mi · 1,766 people · home $297,400
- Leeds, AL6.5 mi · 12,324 people · home $224,600
- Highland Lakes, AL8.0 mi · 5,239 people · home $599,200
- Vincent, AL9.0 mi · 1,982 people · home $166,500
- Brook Highland, AL9.1 mi · 7,406 people · home $427,400
Vandiver questions
Is Vandiver, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Vandiver scores better for retirees than 97% of Alabama towns and quieter than 98%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.4).
How much does a house cost in Vandiver?
The median owner-occupied home in Vandiver is valued at $104,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,783, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $978 a month.
What is the weather like in Vandiver?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 34.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Vandiver get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vandiver since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 25, 2021. 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)