The Town FilesAnniston, Alabama
City in Calhoun County · population 21,564 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,800
- Household income
- $46,668
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 42.8
Anniston is a city of 21,564 people in Calhoun County, Alabama. The median home is worth $158,800, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better transit than 94% of Alabama towns, more walkable than 92% of Alabama towns, hipper than 90% of Alabama towns.
How Anniston 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 Anniston is worth $158,800, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $46,668, which is more affordable than 27% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $799 a month. 58.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Anniston | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,800 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $799 | $834 |
| Median household income | $46,668 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 58.5% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Anniston
| People | Anniston | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.6% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.2% | 86.7% |
Weather in Anniston
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 34.0°F. About 52.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 60 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 52 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Anniston since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on December 3, 1983 about 3.1 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 76 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 67 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 20, 1970.
Severe weather in Calhoun County since 1996
Calhoun County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| April 26, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4596: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| December 10, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4573: Hurricane Zeta |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Calhoun County
Calhoun County had 43,778 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,354 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Anniston itself the ACS puts it at 6.4%.
Public schools in Anniston
18 public schools with 6,403 students, about 17.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saks Elementary School | PK-6 | 616 | 15.8 |
| Wellborn Elementary School | PK-6 | 579 | 17.0 |
| White Plains Elementary School | PK-4 | 551 | 17.2 |
| De Armanville Elementary School | PK-4 | 492 | 14.9 |
| Anniston High School | 9-12 | 480 | 17.1 |
| Saks High School | 7-12 | 450 | 15.5 |
| Wellborn High School | 7-12 | 430 | 14.8 |
| Golden Springs Elementary School | 1-5 | 396 | 17.2 |
| Anniston Middle School | 6-8 | 394 | 19.7 |
| White Plains Middle School | 5-8 | 391 | 18.6 |
| Coldwater Elementary School | PK-4 | 389 | 15.0 |
| White Plains High School | 9-12 | 386 | 18.4 |
Towns near Anniston
- Saks, AL3.6 mi · 9,956 people · home $116,400
- West End-Cobb Town, AL4.1 mi · 3,128 people · home $83,900
- Weaver, AL5.9 mi · 3,339 people · home $162,300
- Choccolocco, AL6.0 mi · 2,838 people · home $262,900
- Oxford, AL6.3 mi · 22,069 people · home $170,900
- Alexandria, AL7.0 mi · 4,032 people · home $197,700
- Jacksonville, AL10.0 mi · 14,385 people · home $185,500
- Heflin, AL14.0 mi · 3,431 people · home $171,700
Anniston questions
Is Anniston, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Anniston scores better for retirees than 29% of Alabama towns and quieter than 17%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in Anniston?
The median owner-occupied home in Anniston is valued at $158,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,668, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $799 a month.
What is the weather like in Anniston?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 34.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Anniston get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Anniston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on December 3, 1983. 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)