The Town FilesOzark, Alabama
City in Dale County · population 14,368 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $148,900
- Household income
- $48,944
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 43.1
Ozark is a city of 14,368 people in Dale County, Alabama. The median home is worth $148,900, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better transit than 83% of Alabama towns, more vibrant than 75% of Alabama towns.
How Ozark 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 Ozark is worth $148,900, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $48,944, which is more affordable than 45% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $694 a month. 64.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ozark | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $148,900 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $694 | $834 |
| Median household income | $48,944 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 64.9% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Ozark
| People | Ozark | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.3% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.1% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 14.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Ozark
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 39.8°F. About 53.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 89 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 21 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ozark since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on March 1, 2007 about 9.6 miles from the town center and killed 9. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 13 deaths and 212 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 5, 2017.
Severe weather in Dale County since 1996
Dale County has been included in 33 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 |
| July 10, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4554: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Dale County
Dale County had 18,260 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,321 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Ozark itself the ACS puts it at 9.1%.
Public schools in Ozark
8 public schools with 2,029 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll High School | 9-12 | 673 | 17.7 |
| Joseph W Lisenby Primary School | PK-2 | 527 | 17.6 |
| D A Smith Middle School | 6-8 | 434 | 15.5 |
| Harry N Mixon Intermediate School | 3-5 | 395 | 16.5 |
| Eagle Academy | PK-12 | — | — |
| Opportunity Academy | 7-12 | — | — |
| Bridge Academy | 9-12 | — | — |
| Carroll High School Career Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Ozark
- Daleville, AL11.7 mi · 4,866 people · home $126,000
- Enterprise, AL14.7 mi · 28,711 people · home $202,900
- Headland, AL18.2 mi · 4,973 people · home $219,600
- Dothan, AL20.6 mi · 71,072 people · home $194,000
- Hartford, AL24.1 mi · 2,651 people · home $160,800
- Elba, AL25.6 mi · 3,508 people · home $114,500
Ozark questions
Is Ozark, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ozark scores better for retirees than 53% of Alabama towns and quieter than 23%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.1).
How much does a house cost in Ozark?
The median owner-occupied home in Ozark is valued at $148,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,944, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $694 a month.
What is the weather like in Ozark?
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 39.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Ozark get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ozark since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on March 1, 2007. 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)