The Town FilesVestavia Hills, Alabama
City in Jefferson County · population 39,102 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $530,000
- Household income
- $134,369
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 46
- Median age
- 41.7
Vestavia Hills is a city of 39,102 people in Jefferson County, Alabama. The median home is worth $530,000, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Alabama towns, more upscale than 99% of Alabama towns, more vibrant than 96% of Alabama towns.
How Vestavia Hills 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 Vestavia Hills is worth $530,000, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $134,369, which is more affordable than 14% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $1,515 a month. 78.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Vestavia Hills | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $530,000 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $1,515 | $834 |
| Median household income | $134,369 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 78.0% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Vestavia Hills
| People | Vestavia Hills | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 65.3% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.0% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 17.5% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.3% | 86.7% |
Weather in Vestavia Hills
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 34.9°F. About 56.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.4 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 65 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 47 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vestavia Hills since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 4, 1977 about 7.9 miles from the town center and killed 22. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 73 deaths and 1,224 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 10, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 95 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 21, 1959.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| December 21, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4632: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 26, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4596: 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 Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 367,081 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,562 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Vestavia Hills itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Vestavia Hills
7 public schools with 5,304 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vestavia Hills High School | 10-12 | 1,624 | 14.1 |
| Vestavia Hills Elementary East | PK-5 | 741 | 15.1 |
| Vestavia Hills Elementary West | PK-5 | 720 | 13.8 |
| Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge | PK-5 | 639 | 14.5 |
| Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park | PK-5 | 559 | 16.0 |
| Vestavia Hills High School Freshman Campus | 9-9 | 531 | 14.8 |
| Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights | PK-5 | 490 | 15.8 |
Towns near Vestavia Hills
- Mountain Brook, AL2.0 mi · 22,461 people · home $916,300
- Brook Highland, AL3.6 mi · 7,406 people · home $427,400
- Homewood, AL4.1 mi · 26,414 people · home $558,500
- Meadowbrook, AL5.1 mi · 9,688 people · home $423,700
- Birmingham, AL5.6 mi · 200,733 people · home $158,800
- Eagle Point, AL5.6 mi · 2,903 people · home $493,800
- Highland Lakes, AL6.9 mi · 5,239 people · home $599,200
- Irondale, AL7.1 mi · 13,497 people · home $255,800
Vestavia Hills questions
Is Vestavia Hills, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Vestavia Hills scores better for retirees than 89% of Alabama towns and quieter than 13%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in Vestavia Hills?
The median owner-occupied home in Vestavia Hills is valued at $530,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $134,369, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,515 a month.
What is the weather like in Vestavia Hills?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 34.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1.4 inches of snow.
Does Vestavia Hills get tornadoes?
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vestavia Hills since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 4, 1977. 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)