The Town FilesCottondale, Alabama
Community in Tuscaloosa County · population 3,130 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $139,200
- Household income
- $44,877
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 45.1
Cottondale is a community of 3,130 people in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The median home is worth $139,200, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more vibrant than 96% of Alabama towns, hipper than 95% of Alabama towns, better transit than 94% of Alabama towns.
How Cottondale 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 Cottondale is worth $139,200, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $44,877, which is more affordable than 39% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $935 a month. 82.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cottondale | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $139,200 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $935 | $834 |
| Median household income | $44,877 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 82.0% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.7% | — |
Who lives in Cottondale
| People | Cottondale | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.1 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.1% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 13.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.9% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.0% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in Cottondale
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 35.2°F. About 57.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 89 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 47 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cottondale since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on March 3, 1966 about 10.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 66 deaths and 1,032 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 30, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 1, 2007.
Severe weather in Tuscaloosa County since 1996
Tuscaloosa County has been included in 28 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 |
| May 21, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4546: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Tuscaloosa County
Tuscaloosa County had 99,288 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,535 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Cottondale itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Cottondale
5 public schools with 3,110 students, about 18.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul W Bryant High School | 9-12 | 1,072 | 19.5 |
| Eastwood Middle School | 6-8 | 722 | 17.6 |
| Maxwell Elementary School | PK-5 | 509 | 18.9 |
| Cottondale Elementary School | PK-5 | 447 | 17.2 |
| DavisEmerson Middle School | 6-8 | 360 | 17.1 |
Towns near Cottondale
- Holt, AL3.0 mi · 3,413 people · home $126,900
- Tuscaloosa, AL5.1 mi · 99,600 people · home $255,500
- Brookwood, AL7.8 mi · 2,504 people · home $188,300
- Northport, AL9.3 mi · 31,125 people · home $282,600
- Moundville, AL16.9 mi · 3,024 people · home $189,700
- Lake View, AL19.1 mi · 3,560 people · home $304,400
- Brent, AL23.7 mi · 2,972 people · home $146,500
- Centreville, AL24.7 mi · 2,800 people · home $161,300
Cottondale questions
Is Cottondale, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cottondale scores better for retirees than 8% of Alabama towns and quieter than 11%. 16.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.1).
How much does a house cost in Cottondale?
The median owner-occupied home in Cottondale is valued at $139,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,877, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $935 a month.
What is the weather like in Cottondale?
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 35.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Cottondale get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cottondale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on March 3, 1966. 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)