The Town FilesSylacauga, Alabama
City in Talladega County · population 12,578 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $161,200
- Household income
- $50,017
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 37.4
Sylacauga is a city of 12,578 people in Talladega County, Alabama. The median home is worth $161,200, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more walkable than 90% of Alabama towns, better for cycling than 89% of Alabama towns, more vibrant than 82% of Alabama towns.
How Sylacauga 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 Sylacauga is worth $161,200, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $50,017, which is more affordable than 37% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $773 a month. 55.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sylacauga | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,200 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $773 | $834 |
| Median household income | $50,017 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 55.1% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sylacauga
| People | Sylacauga | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.9% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.0% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 86.7% |
Weather in Sylacauga
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 31.4°F. About 57.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.7 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 61 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 73 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sylacauga since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 27, 1973 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 19, 2006.
Severe weather in Talladega County since 1996
Talladega County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| December 10, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4573: Hurricane Zeta |
| 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 Talladega County
Talladega County had 31,690 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,301 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Sylacauga itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Sylacauga
7 public schools with 3,541 students, about 17.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sylacauga High School | 9-12 | 678 | 16.5 |
| Fayetteville High School | PK-12 | 578 | 18.1 |
| Indian Valley Elementary School | PK-2 | 519 | 16.2 |
| BB Comer Memorial Elementary School | PK-6 | 509 | 19.6 |
| NicholsLawson Middle School | 6-8 | 434 | 13.6 |
| Pinecrest Elementary School | 3-5 | 414 | 18.8 |
| BB Comer Memorial High School | 7-12 | 409 | 20.5 |
Towns near Sylacauga
- Childersburg, AL8.1 mi · 4,754 people · home $133,500
- Talladega, AL19.6 mi · 15,861 people · home $121,900
- Columbiana, AL19.7 mi · 4,462 people · home $259,500
- Chelsea, AL22.4 mi · 14,982 people · home $360,000
- Pell City, AL25.7 mi · 12,939 people · home $249,600
- Highland Lakes, AL25.9 mi · 5,239 people · home $599,200
- Alexander City, AL27.0 mi · 14,843 people · home $155,000
- Eagle Point, AL27.5 mi · 2,903 people · home $493,800
Sylacauga questions
Is Sylacauga, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sylacauga scores better for retirees than 30% of Alabama towns and quieter than 13%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.4).
How much does a house cost in Sylacauga?
The median owner-occupied home in Sylacauga is valued at $161,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,017, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $773 a month.
What is the weather like in Sylacauga?
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 31.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.1 inches of precipitation a year and 1.7 inches of snow.
Does Sylacauga get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sylacauga since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 27, 1973. 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)