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Living in
Sylacauga.
About
Life in Sylacauga
Sylacauga is a community of 12,388 people in Alabama. The median household income is $50,017, median rent runs about $773 per month, and median home values are around $161,200. Unemployment is low at 3.3%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Sylacauga at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
21.0%
Foreign-Born
1.1%
Broadband Internet
92.6%
of households
Population Growth
-4.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.1% foreign-born, most often from Sweden
Who lives in Sylacauga: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Sylacauga, the largest foreign-born group is from Sweden (46.7%), and 2.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.5%
of residents
65 and Older
19.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.2%
of households
Married Couples
42.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.27
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 23% below AL average
Rent, home values, and income in Sylacauga
In Sylacauga, rent runs 23% below the AL average, and home values are 23% below the AL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
33.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
14.5%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$783
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1973
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $160,832 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for AL
Unemployment in Sylacauga
Unemployment in Talladega County, which includes Sylacauga, is close to the AL average.
Unemployment rate
Sylacauga: Talladega County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Talladega County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Sylacauga Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.1 min avg
How Sylacauga residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Sylacauga, most residents drive alone to work (87%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 40 mi
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
- 110 mi
Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Major hub51.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 39% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Sylacauga runs 39% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
457.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,504.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Sylacauga Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 18 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
84.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Talladega County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Talladega County, which includes Sylacauga, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 18 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1,000 |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,500 |
| 2023 | 17 | Hail | $5,000 |
| 2022 | 5 | Hail | None reported |
| 2021 | 1 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 4 | Hail | None reported |
| 2018 | 4 | Drought | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Talladega County, county-wide
Air Quality33 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Clay County, AL (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 24 miles from Sylacauga) is typically good — 287 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
33
Good Days
287
per year
Moderate Days
66
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Clay County, AL (24 mi away)
Climate89°F summers, 33°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Sylacauga has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and mild winters (avg low 33°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
74°/49°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
75°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
57°/33°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
57.1"
Annual Snowfall
1.7"
Hot Days/Year
61
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
73
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
107
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55°F | 31°F | 5.55" |
| Feb | 59°F | 34°F | 5.88" |
| Mar | 67°F | 41°F | 5.45" |
| Apr | 75°F | 48°F | 4.79" |
| May | 81°F | 57°F | 4.40" |
| Jun | 87°F | 65°F | 4.97" |
| Jul | 90°F | 69°F | 4.62" |
| Aug | 89°F | 67°F | 4.32" |
| Sep | 85°F | 61°F | 3.70" |
| Oct | 76°F | 49°F | 3.46" |
| Nov | 65°F | 39°F | 4.71" |
| Dec | 57°F | 34°F | 5.25" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Sylacauga
Sylacauga has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Coosa Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Sylacauga
Sylacauga's student/teacher ratio is 16.1:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 17.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, 33 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Sylacauga
Sylacauga has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Horseshoe Bend National Military Park (33 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Horseshoe Bend National Military Park
National Military Park
33 mi awayFreedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
38 mi awayBirmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
40 mi awayTuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
National Historic Site
60 mi awayTuskegee Institute National Historic Site
National Historic Site
61 mi awaySelma To Montgomery National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
68 mi awayLittle River Canyon National Preserve
National Preserve
93 mi awayPublic Libraries in Sylacauga
Sylacuga - B. B. Comer Memorial Library
314 North Broadway Avenue, Sylacauga
Cities Near Sylacauga
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Sylacauga?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Sylacauga FAQ
Is Sylacauga, Alabama affordable?⌄
Sylacauga's median rent is $773/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $50,017/year. Median home value is $161,200.
Is Sylacauga, Alabama safe?⌄
Sylacauga's violent crime rate was 458 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2504 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Sylacauga, Alabama?⌄
Talladega County, which includes Sylacauga, has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Sylacauga, Alabama?⌄
The cost of living in Sylacauga is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $773/month and median household income is $50,017/year. The median home value is $161,200. About 33% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Sylacauga, Alabama?⌄
The average commute in Sylacauga is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from