The Town FilesEmerald Mountain, Alabama
Community in Elmore County · population 3,310 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $321,300
- Household income
- $123,347
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 41.6
Emerald Mountain is a community of 3,310 people in Elmore County, Alabama. The median home is worth $321,300, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for families than 99% of Alabama towns, more of a college town than 99% of Alabama towns, more upscale than 98% of Alabama towns.
How Emerald Mountain 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 Emerald Mountain is worth $321,300, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $123,347, which is more affordable than 69% of Alabama towns. 96.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Emerald Mountain | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $321,300 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | — | $834 |
| Median household income | $123,347 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 96.1% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 2005 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Emerald Mountain
| People | Emerald Mountain | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.5% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 32.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.0% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.2% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 25.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.1% | 86.7% |
Weather in Emerald Mountain
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 33.8°F. About 54.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 66 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 54 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emerald Mountain since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 25, 1979 about 8.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 56 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 6, 2026.
Severe weather in Elmore County since 1996
Elmore County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| May 5, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4710: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| January 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4684: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| December 10, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4573: Hurricane Zeta |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
Jobs and pay in Elmore County
Elmore County had 21,539 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,014 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Emerald Mountain itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Towns near Emerald Mountain
- Redland, AL3.7 mi · 5,106 people · home $317,100
- Wetumpka, AL9.2 mi · 7,220 people · home $203,900
- Pike Road, AL12.1 mi · 9,439 people · home $381,600
- Montgomery, AL12.2 mi · 200,603 people · home $161,900
- Tallassee, AL13.2 mi · 4,763 people · home $144,600
- Millbrook, AL16.7 mi · 16,564 people · home $207,100
- Holtville, AL18.6 mi · 4,940 people · home $267,100
- Prattville, AL20.7 mi · 37,781 people · home $214,600
Emerald Mountain questions
Is Emerald Mountain, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Emerald Mountain scores better for retirees than 50% of Alabama towns and quieter than 18%. 10.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Emerald Mountain?
The median owner-occupied home in Emerald Mountain is valued at $321,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $123,347, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Emerald Mountain?
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 33.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Emerald Mountain get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emerald Mountain since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 25, 1979. 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)