The Town FilesFlorence, Alabama
City in Lauderdale County · population 40,184 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $196,300
- Household income
- $52,174
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 35.1
Florence is a city of 40,184 people in Lauderdale County, Alabama. The median home is worth $196,300, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more vibrant than 99% of Alabama towns, hipper than 98% of Alabama towns, better for young professionals than 96% of Alabama towns.
How Florence 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 Florence is worth $196,300, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $52,174, which is more affordable than 15% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $820 a month. 52.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Florence | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $196,300 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $820 | $834 |
| Median household income | $52,174 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 52.1% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Florence
| People | Florence | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.5% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.5% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.9% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Florence
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 31.2°F. About 57.6 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 62 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Florence since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 24, 1967 about 0.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 50 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 76 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on February 21, 2005.
Severe weather in Lauderdale County since 1996
Lauderdale County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 |
| 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 Lauderdale County
Lauderdale County had 30,845 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,767 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Florence itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Florence
15 public schools with 7,753 students, about 17.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florence High School | 10-12 | 1,074 | 17.9 |
| Forest Hills School | PK-4 | 827 | 15.0 |
| Florence Middle School | 7-8 | 649 | 17.5 |
| Central High School | 7-12 | 603 | 15.5 |
| Wilson High School | 7-12 | 599 | 15.0 |
| Rogers Elementary School | PK-6 | 585 | 18.3 |
| Hibbett School | 5-6 | 576 | 17.5 |
| Wilson Elementary School | PK-6 | 556 | 17.9 |
| Rogers High School | 7-12 | 539 | 15.4 |
| Weeden Elementary School | PK-4 | 422 | 16.9 |
| Harlan Elementary School | PK-4 | 389 | 13.0 |
| Florence Freshman Center | 9-9 | 381 | 21.2 |
Towns near Florence
- Underwood-Petersville, AL3.8 mi · 3,051 people · home $142,900
- Sheffield, AL5.4 mi · 9,403 people · home $133,800
- Muscle Shoals, AL6.2 mi · 16,275 people · home $199,700
- Tuscumbia, AL8.0 mi · 9,054 people · home $196,700
- Russellville, AL22.7 mi · 10,855 people · home $123,800
Florence questions
Is Florence, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Florence scores better for retirees than 41% of Alabama towns and quieter than 2%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.1).
How much does a house cost in Florence?
The median owner-occupied home in Florence is valued at $196,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,174, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $820 a month.
What is the weather like in Florence?
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 31.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Florence get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Florence since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 24, 1967. 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)