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Rainsville, AL

Full City Profile · Alabama · DeKalb County County

3.4 /5.0
B Good
5,613 Population 271/sq mi density
$64,140 Median Income $29,894 per capita
$207,800 Home Value $224,867 Zillow
$647 Median Rent 34.2% income on rent
62°F Avg Temperature 301 sunny days/yr
258 Violent Crime/100K 2,704 property/100K
B
Overall
3.4 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.3 / 5.0
$64,140 median income, 0.6% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.9 / 5.0
$207,800 home value, $647/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
258 violent crimes/100K
B
Education
3.2 / 5.0
28.1% bachelor's degree or higher
Rainsville enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C). Winters average 42°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 58.0 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.

Temperature

42°F Jan (5°C) 80°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average62.2°F
15% above US avg
January Average42°F (5°C)
July Average80°F (27°C)
Sunny Days301 days/yr

Geography

Elevation1,290 ft (393 m)
Area20.6 sq mi (53.3 km²)
Population Density271/sq mi
Coordinates34.4944°N, 85.8365°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyDeKalb County County
Nearest AirportNortheast Alabama Regional (GAD)
39 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 58.0"
53% above US avg
Wettest Month (Mar) 6.50"
Driest Month (Oct) 3.31"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0470 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)8.9 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score80.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability74.7 / 100
Community Resilience13.5 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

108 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.6. Most recent: M2.6 on Feb 25, 2025.

Apr 29, 2003 8 km S of Valley Head, Alabama M4.6 19 km
Dec 8, 2001 5 km SW of Pleasant Groves, Alabama M3.9 43 km
Jul 19, 1997 12 km E of Cohutta, Georgia M3.5 107 km
Mar 18, 1995 10 km SE of Dayton, Tennessee M3.3 132 km
Mar 7, 2001 6 km NW of Decatur, Tennessee M3.2 148 km
Mar 7, 2001 5 km WNW of Decatur, Tennessee M3.2 147 km
Mar 21, 2001 7 km ESE of Trenton, Georgia M3.2 54 km
Apr 5, 1994 10 km N of Trenton, Georgia M3.2 62 km
May 6, 2010 11 km ENE of Whitesboro, Alabama M3.2 36 km
May 10, 2020 7 km SSE of Sewanee, Tennessee M3.1 72 km
Jun 23, 2008 10 km ESE of Cohutta, Georgia M3.1 103 km
Apr 29, 2003 7 km E of Fort Payne, Alabama M3.1 19 km
Oct 30, 1991 9 km NNE of Eton, Georgia M3.1 112 km
May 2, 2003 8 km S of Valley Head, Alabama M3.1 21 km
Jan 15, 1993 1 km N of Apison, Tennessee M3.1 96 km
Nov 1, 2009 1 km ESE of South Cleveland, Tennessee M3.0 115 km
May 4, 1994 2 km NNW of Addison, Alabama M3.0 128 km
Sep 13, 2011 1 km NNW of Leeds, Alabama M3.0 123 km
May 4, 1994 12 km NNW of Addison, Alabama M3.0 131 km
Jan 21, 2022 16 km NNE of Eton, Georgia M2.9 115 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

1 hurricane (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 1. Most recent: Opal (1995, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
1995 Opal Category 1 273 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

623 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 196 fatalities, 2,610 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 27, 2011 EF5 17 km 25
Apr 27, 2011 EF4 74 km 20
Apr 27, 2011 EF4 34 km 1
Apr 27, 2011 EF4 19 km 14
Apr 24, 2010 EF4 20 km 0
Feb 6, 2008 EF4 20 km 1
Nov 24, 2001 EF4 84 km 0
Mar 27, 1994 EF4 84 km 3
Mar 27, 1994 EF4 91 km 22
Nov 15, 1989 EF4 77 km 21
Apr 3, 1974 EF4 72 km 9
Apr 3, 1974 EF4 83 km 11
May 19, 1973 EF4 8 km 0
Nov 18, 1957 EF4 85 km 3
Feb 29, 1952 EF4 100 km 2
Feb 13, 1952 EF4 89 km 3
May 8, 2024 EF3 16 km 0
Apr 1, 2023 EF3 86 km 1
Mar 25, 2021 EF3 92 km 6
Apr 12, 2020 EF3 73 km 2
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (7,740 ac, 2014).

Year Name Acres Distance
2014 UNNAMED 7,740 81 km
2013 UNNAMED 6,320 88 km
2016 UNNAMED 5,844 80 km
2001 UNNAMED 4,213 95 km
2014 HOUCK CREEK 3,857 88 km
2022 SC 540C/CHOCCOLOCCO 3,750 78 km
2020 SC WEST END C AND D 3,538 80 km
2010 UPPER SHOAL 3,512 84 km
2008 UNNAMED 3,410 83 km
2018 HOUCK CREEK 3,188 87 km
2007 PENTECOST 3,095 54 km
2010 BANKHEAD I 3,027 91 km
2024 AL-MLR UNITS 2/3 RX 2,836 85 km
2013 UNNAMED 2,777 91 km
1987 STATEC0045 2,669 28 km
2006 UNNAMED 2,642 88 km
2010 ML 0301 RX BURN 2,631 85 km
2019 540C 2,622 80 km
2013 UNNAMED 2,611 81 km
2006 UNNAMED 2,584 87 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 42°F (5°C) 5.5 in Coldest
February 43°F (6°C) 5.2 in
March 50°F (10°C) 6.5 in Wettest
April 58°F (14°C) 5.2 in
May 66°F (19°C) 4.8 in
June 73°F (23°C) 3.9 in
July 80°F (27°C) 4.8 in Warmest
August 76°F (25°C) 3.5 in
September 70°F (21°C) 4.6 in
October 59°F (15°C) 3.3 in Driest
November 50°F (10°C) 4.6 in
December 42°F (5°C) 5.6 in

Rainsville has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 42°F in January to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 57.6 inches, with March being the wettest month (6.5") and October the driest (3.3").

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