The Town FilesCalera, Alabama
City in Shelby County · population 16,494 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $235,300
- Household income
- $87,194
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 33.9
Calera is a city of 16,494 people in Shelby County, Alabama. The median home is worth $235,300, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more upscale than 89% of Alabama towns, better for cycling than 88% of Alabama towns, better for young professionals than 82% of Alabama towns.
How Calera 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 Calera is worth $235,300, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $87,194, which is more affordable than 62% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $1,601 a month. 79.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Calera | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $235,300 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $1,601 | $834 |
| Median household income | $87,194 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 79.3% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 2006 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Calera
| People | Calera | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.9 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.3% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.1% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.7% | — |
| Work from home | 16.2% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 33.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.1% | 86.7% |
Weather in Calera
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 0.8 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
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Calera since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 27, 1973 about 1.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 70 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 2, 2003.
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 Calera itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Calera
3 public schools with 2,572 students, about 19.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calera High | 9-12 | 1,053 | 19.9 |
| Calera Intermediate School | 3-5 | 769 | 18.8 |
| Calera Elementary | K-2 | 750 | 18.3 |
Towns near Calera
- Montevallo, AL5.9 mi · 7,229 people · home $220,700
- Alabaster, AL7.8 mi · 33,284 people · home $261,700
- Columbiana, AL8.9 mi · 4,462 people · home $259,500
- Jemison, AL10.5 mi · 2,642 people · home $170,000
- Pelham, AL13.8 mi · 24,318 people · home $299,800
- Helena, AL13.9 mi · 20,914 people · home $330,700
- Chelsea, AL14.4 mi · 14,982 people · home $360,000
- Hoover, AL17.9 mi · 92,606 people · home $412,200
Calera questions
Is Calera, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Calera scores better for retirees than 20% of Alabama towns and quieter than 23%. 8.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.9).
How much does a house cost in Calera?
The median owner-occupied home in Calera is valued at $235,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,194, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,601 a month.
What is the weather like in Calera?
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 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Calera get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Calera 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)