The Town FilesHartselle, Alabama
City in Morgan County · population 15,455 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $203,800
- Household income
- $76,290
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 38.5
Hartselle is a city of 15,455 people in Morgan County, Alabama. The median home is worth $203,800, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more vibrant than 86% of Alabama towns, more upscale than 84% of Alabama towns, better transit than 84% of Alabama towns.
How Hartselle 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 Hartselle is worth $203,800, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $76,290, which is more affordable than 62% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $804 a month. 77.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hartselle | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $203,800 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $804 | $834 |
| Median household income | $76,290 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 77.9% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Hartselle
| People | Hartselle | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.4% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.9% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.3% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 86.7% |
Weather in Hartselle
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 31.2°F. About 58.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 52 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hartselle since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1974 about 5.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 131 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 7, 1984.
Severe weather in Morgan County since 1996
Morgan County has been included in 24 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 |
| January 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4684: 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 Morgan County
Morgan County had 52,617 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,944 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Hartselle itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Hartselle
7 public schools with 3,669 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartselle High School | 9-12 | 1,004 | 14.6 |
| Crestline Elementary School | PK-4 | 591 | 14.4 |
| Hartselle Junior High School | 7-8 | 568 | 16.2 |
| Hartselle Intermediate School | 5-6 | 534 | 16.2 |
| FE Burleson Elementary School | PK-4 | 486 | 14.7 |
| Barkley Bridge Elementary School | PK-4 | 486 | 17.4 |
| Morgan County Learning Center | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Hartselle
- Priceville, AL7.0 mi · 3,512 people · home $266,400
- Decatur, AL9.6 mi · 57,938 people · home $210,200
- Trinity, AL13.5 mi · 2,526 people · home $283,000
- Triana, AL14.9 mi · 2,890 people · home $278,200
- Cullman, AL19.1 mi · 18,213 people · home $238,900
- Moulton, AL19.8 mi · 3,398 people · home $123,900
- Madison, AL21.2 mi · 56,933 people · home $398,800
- Huntsville, AL23.3 mi · 215,006 people · home $293,600
Hartselle questions
Is Hartselle, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hartselle scores better for retirees than 54% of Alabama towns and quieter than 37%. 17.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Hartselle?
The median owner-occupied home in Hartselle is valued at $203,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,290, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $804 a month.
What is the weather like in Hartselle?
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 31.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.0 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does Hartselle get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hartselle since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 3, 1974. 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)