Killen Town Hall, 2013
Killen’s story
130 years in pictures
Census counts: 620 in 1960, 1,034 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2013 and 4 maps from 1916 on.
- 1896Killen is settled
KillenAL
A town of 1,039, settled in 1896.
Clyde Carter House · Photo: Spyder_Monkey · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
1,039
2025 Census estimate · +1.3% since 2020
Typical home
$270K
+1.7% in a year
Household income
$70K
median
Median age
40.9
years
Jobs based here
539
A job hub
Is Killen a good place to live?
Killen’s best subject grade is an A for cost of living; its weakest is a C− for hazard risk. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 82% of U.S. towns. Among 188 Alabama towns, just 2 have a lower January low than Killen. The biggest park or preserve is Killen Park, at 21 acres. Killen has 1 place on the National Register. Killen has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Killen stand out
Where Killen beats most towns.
Typical home value
Killen$270K
Alabama$239K
Cost of livingA
4.4 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 86% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
Lauderdale County schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Brooks Elementary School | PK–6 | 874 |
| Brooks High School | 7–12 | 729 |
SchoolsB+
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
Small town
1,039 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How Killen grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Alabama), ordered by how far Killen is from typical.
Cost of livingAOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.5 of 20; 3.3% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →SchoolsB+Open →HealthNorth Alabama Medical Center 7.9 miles awayB+Open →Jobs & income$70K median household incomeC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0 miles of trails; 2% conserved landCOpen →History4 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life4.4 library visits per resident; 2.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Killen: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Killen, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of Florence12.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Florence Water DepartmentNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Killen’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Alabama you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person until 15 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereLauderdale County Circuit ClerkLauderdale County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2019
ZIP code3564535645 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Killen.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
With 1.5 jobs for every working resident, Killen draws in 528 commuters
Most working residents leave Killen for work: only 3% work in town. Since 2013, Killen has added 122 jobs, to 539 in 2023. 8% of residents live below the poverty line in Killen, below the Alabama town median (16%) and near the median of U.S. towns (9.6%).
3%work in town
| Killen | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 8% | 16% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.1% | 10% | 8% |
| Median household income | $70,000 | $62,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Killen3%
Florence28%
Muscle Shoals10%
Sheffield5%
Huntsville5%
10 mi
median commute distance
539
jobs based in Killen
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 18% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SchoolsB+
Killen’s schools rank ahead of 73% of Alabama districts
Its public schools are run by the Lauderdale County school district. Its two schools are below. The largest public high school is Brooks High School, with 729 students.
73%of AL districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brooks Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 874 | A− |
| Brooks High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 729 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AL on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Killen
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 73% of U.S. communities.
73risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthB+
Residents of Killen are healthier than 67% of U.S. towns
For Killen, that is where Alabama’s towns sit at 36% and U.S. towns at 33%. Killen beats the Alabama average on 14 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 11% of Killen adults worry about having enough food.
67%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Killen | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 36% | 33% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 19% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 43% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 30% | 25% |
32 measures vs. Alabama
14 better17 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Killen | AL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 11% | 19.2% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 5.6% | 9.6% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.1% | 8.2% |
North Alabama Medical Center
7.9 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Four seasons and hot summers in Killen
Killen has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in Killen is 90°F.
90°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter32–53°
Spring48–73°
Summer66–89°
Fall48–74°
Nov 3
typical first frost
Mar 30
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
90°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Fewer young adults than Alabama overall
Adults 18 to 34 are 15% of residents (22% statewide); people 65 and older are 23% of residents (18% statewide). 20% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Killen.
40.9median age · AL 39.3
| Killen | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 20% | 23% | 29% |
| Median age | 40.9 years | 39.2 years | 40.5 years |
KillenAlabamaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma11%
High school38%
Some college21%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s13%
Graduate7%
Women and men · all residents
Somewhere between 28% and 62% women
The Census survey reached too few of Killen’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±17.1 points. Across Alabama, 51.4% of residents are women.
| Killen | AL | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 12.9% | 10.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.6% | 9.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 7.6% | 12.9% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 15.7% | 12.4% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.1% | 12.2% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 10.4% | 13% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 12.4% | 10.7% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 10.3% | 7.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 10.8% | 11.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 38.4% | 30.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 20.8% | 20.8% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10% | 9.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 12.8% | 17.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 7.4% | 11.1% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,000, single groups can be off by several points
HousingCost of living grade A
Killen’s typical home value is about $270K
The typical Killen home is worth about $270,000, up 1.7% in a year, 13% above the Alabama typical home.
$270KZillow home value
| Killen | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $960 a month | $940 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 69% | 69% | 73% |
Typical home value
Killen$270K
Alabama$239K
+1.7%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Safety
Crime reported in Killen
Killen's reported crime rate is below Alabama's. Killen’s property crime rate is 9.6 per 1,000 residents. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts.
| Killen | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 9.6 per 1,000 residents | 19.5 | 11.5 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 1 per 1,000 residents | 2.7 | 1.7 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Killen1
Alabama3.8
U.S.3.6
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Killen9.6
Alabama16.4
U.S.17.7
1
violent crimes reported in 2024
10
property crimes reported in 2024
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
1.6%conserved
| Killen | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 1.6% | 1.2% | 4.3% |
1.6%
conserved · 20 of 1,299 acres
0.4 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Killen Park | 0.1 mi | 21 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 15 attractions →Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and 4 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Killen. Close and well known come first.
10 mi MuseumMuscle Shoals Sound Studio
18 mi ParkwayNatchez Trace Parkway8.0M visitors a year14 mi MuseumAlabama Music Hall of Fame
36 mi TheatrePrincess Theatre38 mi MuseumApron MuseumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Muscle Shoals Sound Studio: Dailynetworks, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Natchez Trace Parkway: Carol M. Highsmith (1946–), Public domain · Princess Theatre: Chris Pruitt, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Killen
20pages on Killen
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 73% of AL districts · 2 schoolsSafety1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2024)HealthB+Better than AL on 14 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA$270K typical home · up 1.7% in a yearWork & commuteC+$70K median household income · 539 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 73% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Killen
Heritage Christian UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Florence7.6 mi$11,982 tuitionUniversity of North AlabamaUniversity or college · Public · Florence9.3 mi$12,120 in-state tuitionNorthwest Shoals Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Muscle Shoals11.9 mi$5,131 in-state tuition
About 6 of every 100 Killen residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Alabama.
A job hub
Every workday, about 528 people come to Killen for work
Where Killen’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
539jobs based in Killen
3%of working residents work in town
10 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Killen
4 notable people were born in Killen.
About Killen
Town in Alabama, United States
Killen is a town in Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Florence - Muscle Shoals Metropolitan Statistical Area known as "The Shoals". It was incorporated in 1957. As of the 2020 census, the population of the town is 1,034, down from its record high of 1,119 in 2000.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 610 ft
- ZIP code
- 35645
- Area code
- 256
Questions about Killen
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Killen, AL expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A.
What is Killen, AL known for?
4 notable people were born here, including David Briggs and Harlon Hill.