The Town FilesArab, Alabama
City in Marshall County · population 8,461 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $215,200
- Household income
- $64,333
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 47
- Median age
- 35.9
Arab is a city of 8,461 people in Marshall County, Alabama. The median home is worth $215,200, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for families than 79% of Alabama towns, more vibrant than 73% of Alabama towns, more upscale than 72% of Alabama towns.
How Arab 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 Arab is worth $215,200, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $64,333, which is more affordable than 32% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $718 a month. 70.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Arab | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $215,200 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $718 | $834 |
| Median household income | $64,333 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.0% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Arab
| People | Arab | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.9% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.3% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 29.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in Arab
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 33.1°F. About 56.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 49 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 52 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
47 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arab since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 22 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 4.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 14 deaths and 340 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 22, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 8, 1998.
Severe weather in Marshall County since 1996
Marshall County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 Marshall County
Marshall County had 40,812 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,206 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Arab itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Arab
5 public schools with 2,885 students, about 17.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arab High School | 9-12 | 747 | 15.6 |
| Arab Primary School | PK-2 | 703 | 16.7 |
| Arab Elementary School | 3-5 | 595 | 20.5 |
| Arab Junior High School | 6-8 | 592 | 16.4 |
| Brindlee Mountain Elementary School | 3-5 | 248 | 20.7 |
Towns near Arab
- Guntersville, AL14.4 mi · 8,553 people · home $324,800
- New Hope, AL15.1 mi · 2,889 people · home $163,700
- Albertville, AL17.3 mi · 22,386 people · home $188,400
- Owens Cross Roads, AL17.7 mi · 2,594 people · home $227,000
- Boaz, AL21.8 mi · 10,107 people · home $199,200
- Cullman, AL22.2 mi · 18,213 people · home $238,900
- Triana, AL22.6 mi · 2,890 people · home $278,200
- Hanceville, AL23.9 mi · 3,217 people · home $169,800
Arab questions
Is Arab, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Arab scores better for retirees than 44% of Alabama towns and quieter than 28%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.9).
How much does a house cost in Arab?
The median owner-occupied home in Arab is valued at $215,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,333, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $718 a month.
What is the weather like in Arab?
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 33.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Arab get tornadoes?
47 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arab since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 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)