The Town FilesWilton, Alabama
Town in Shelby County · population 587 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $162,100
- Household income
- $54,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 31.0
Wilton is a town of 587 people in Shelby County, Alabama. The median home is worth $162,100, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 82% of Alabama towns, more walkable than 79% of Alabama towns, better for young professionals than 75% of Alabama towns.
How Wilton 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 Wilton is worth $162,100, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $54,750, which is more affordable than 45% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $481 a month. 60.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wilton | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $162,100 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $481 | $834 |
| Median household income | $54,750 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 60.4% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wilton
| People | Wilton | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.0 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.6% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.3% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 2.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.2% | 86.7% |
Weather in Wilton
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 35.6°F. About 56.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 63 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 43 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilton since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 27, 1973 about 2.9 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 133 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 22, 2020.
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 Wilton itself the ACS puts it at 8.3%.
Towns near Wilton
- Montevallo, AL3.6 mi · 7,229 people · home $220,700
- Pea Ridge, AL4.9 mi · 841 people · home $98,000
- Calera, AL8.3 mi · 16,494 people · home $235,300
- Brantleyville, AL9.5 mi · 931 people · home $33,000
- Alabaster, AL9.7 mi · 33,284 people · home $261,700
- Jemison, AL11.4 mi · 2,642 people · home $170,000
- Helena, AL14.0 mi · 20,914 people · home $330,700
- West Blocton, AL14.4 mi · 1,217 people · home $99,500
Wilton questions
Is Wilton, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wilton scores better for retirees than 45% of Alabama towns and quieter than 71%. 10.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.0).
How much does a house cost in Wilton?
The median owner-occupied home in Wilton is valued at $162,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,750, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $481 a month.
What is the weather like in Wilton?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 35.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Wilton get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 27, 1973. 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)