The Town FilesCentre, Alabama
City in Cherokee County · population 3,587 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,400
- Household income
- $44,664
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 59.3
Centre is a city of 3,587 people in Cherokee County, Alabama. The median home is worth $158,400, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of Alabama towns, better for young professionals than 76% of Alabama towns, quieter than 73% of Alabama towns.
How Centre 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 Centre is worth $158,400, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $44,664, which is more affordable than 23% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $594 a month. 70.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Centre | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,400 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $594 | $834 |
| Median household income | $44,664 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.3% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Centre
| People | Centre | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.3 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 38.0% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 10.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.3% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.1% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 2.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 15.8% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in Centre
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 28.7°F. About 57.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 77 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Centre since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on December 16, 2000 about 9.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 31 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 10, 2009.
Severe weather in Cherokee County since 1996
Cherokee County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| 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 |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Cherokee County
Cherokee County had 5,352 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,658 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Centre itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Public schools in Centre
4 public schools with 1,589 students, about 18.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centre Elementary School | PK-4 | 663 | 16.2 |
| Cherokee County High School | 9-12 | 481 | 20.9 |
| Centre Middle School | 5-8 | 445 | 19.3 |
| Cherokee County Career Technology Center | 7-12 | — | — |
Towns near Centre
- Hokes Bluff, AL15.7 mi · 4,446 people · home $196,400
- Piedmont, AL15.9 mi · 4,787 people · home $114,800
- Glencoe, AL20.6 mi · 5,372 people · home $206,100
- Fort Payne, AL21.0 mi · 14,877 people · home $157,000
- Gadsden, AL22.2 mi · 33,945 people · home $116,800
- Jacksonville, AL24.2 mi · 14,385 people · home $185,500
- Rainsville, AL25.4 mi · 5,505 people · home $230,400
- Cedartown, GA25.8 mi · 10,190 people · home $147,200
Centre questions
Is Centre, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Centre scores better for retirees than 62% of Alabama towns and quieter than 73%. 38.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.3).
How much does a house cost in Centre?
The median owner-occupied home in Centre is valued at $158,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,664, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $594 a month.
What is the weather like in Centre?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 28.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Centre get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Centre since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on December 16, 2000. 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)