What are the schools like in Gurley, AL?

Gurley is served primarily by Madison County. The district operates 16 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 8 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.4:1.

What is the median household income in Gurley?

The median household income in Gurley, AL is $58,333 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.9%.

What is the weather like in Gurley, AL?

Gurley has an average high temperature of 50.3°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 58.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.3 inches.

Gurley, AL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Gurley, AL affordable or expensive?

Gurley's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Gurley is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $156,900 and the median rent is $596 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Gurley, AL?

Gurley has a violent crime rate of 1055.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3282.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Gurley, AL a Good Place to Live?

Gurley is a small town of 580 in Alabama, with a median household income of $58,333 and a 2.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Gurley stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Gurley is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Gurley city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 88.5

Gurley's overall cost of living index is 88.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Gurley costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Gurley, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$156,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$596	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$58,333	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Gurley's violent crime rate is 1055.1 per 100,000 residents — 178% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

1055.1 /100k

Property Crime

3282.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Gurley is served primarily by Madison County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.4:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Gurley, AL	National Avg
School District	Madison County	—
Elementary Schools	16	—
Middle Schools	5	—
High Schools	8	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	18.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Gurley sees average highs of 50.3°F in January and 88.1°F in July, with 58.1 inches of annual precipitation and 1.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Gurley, AL
Average High — January	50.3°F
Average High — July	88.1°F
Annual Precipitation	58.1"
Annual Snowfall	1.3"

Demographics

Metric	Gurley, AL	National Avg
Population	580	—
Median Age	40.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	21.9%	22.2%
65 and over	19.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Paint Rock, AL 4 mi Woodville, AL 7 mi Owens Cross Roads, AL 9 mi Huntsville, AL 10 mi Pleasant Groves, AL 11 mi

Gurley vs Other Cities

Gurley, AL vs Paint Rock, AL Gurley, AL vs Woodville, AL Gurley, AL vs Owens Cross Roads, AL Gurley, AL vs Huntsville, AL Gurley, AL vs Pleasant Groves, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gurley, AL affordable or expensive?

Gurley's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Gurley roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $156,900 and median rent is $596/month.

What is the crime rate in Gurley, AL?

Gurley's violent crime rate is 1055.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3282.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Gurley?

Public schools in Gurley are operated by Madison County. The district has 16 elementary, 5 middle, and 8 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.4:1. 22.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Gurley, AL a good place to live?

Gurley, AL has a population of 580, a median household income of $58,333, and an unemployment rate of 2.9%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Gurley?

Gurley averages 50.3°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.1 inches with about 1.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Gurley?

The population of Gurley, Alabama is 580 with a median age of 40.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Gurley?

Key numbers for living in Gurley: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $156,900, median household income $58,333, crime index 229 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Gurley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.