The Town FilesRussellville, Alabama
City in Franklin County · population 10,855 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $123,800
- Household income
- $58,231
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 33.8
Russellville is a city of 10,855 people in Franklin County, Alabama. The median home is worth $123,800, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 89% of Alabama towns, more vibrant than 84% of Alabama towns, more walkable than 83% of Alabama towns.
How Russellville 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 Russellville is worth $123,800, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $58,231, which is more affordable than 89% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $685 a month. 69.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Russellville | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $123,800 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $685 | $834 |
| Median household income | $58,231 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.6% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Russellville
| People | Russellville | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.8 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.2% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.0% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 2.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.4% | — |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.0% | 86.7% |
Weather in Russellville
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 31.7°F. About 56.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 57 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 71 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Russellville since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on April 27, 2011 about 9.9 miles from the town center and killed 27. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 27 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on February 12, 2024.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| 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 |
| April 17, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4426: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 10,956 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,266 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Russellville itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Russellville
9 public schools with 4,124 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russellville High School | 9-12 | 777 | 15.5 |
| West Elementary School | PK-2 | 687 | 16.4 |
| Russellville Middle School | 6-8 | 591 | 19.1 |
| Belgreen High School | PK-12 | 566 | 15.7 |
| Russellville Elementary School | 3-5 | 553 | 17.3 |
| Tharptown Elementary School | PK-6 | 548 | 15.7 |
| Tharptown High School | 7-12 | 402 | 18.3 |
| Franklin County Career Technical Center | 9-12 | — | — |
| Russellville City Career Tech Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Russellville
- Tuscumbia, AL14.8 mi · 9,054 people · home $196,700
- Muscle Shoals, AL17.2 mi · 16,275 people · home $199,700
- Sheffield, AL17.5 mi · 9,403 people · home $133,800
- Haleyville, AL19.8 mi · 4,361 people · home $97,600
- Florence, AL22.7 mi · 40,184 people · home $196,300
- Red Bay, AL23.8 mi · 3,232 people · home $108,200
- Moulton, AL25.4 mi · 3,398 people · home $123,900
- Underwood-Petersville, AL25.6 mi · 3,051 people · home $142,900
Russellville questions
Is Russellville, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Russellville scores better for retirees than 7% of Alabama towns and quieter than 7%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.8).
How much does a house cost in Russellville?
The median owner-occupied home in Russellville is valued at $123,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,231, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $685 a month.
What is the weather like in Russellville?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 31.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Russellville get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Russellville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF5 on April 27, 2011. 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)