Leighton is a town in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Florence - Muscle Shoals Metropolitan Statistical Area known as "The Shoals". At the 2020 census, the population was 665. Leighton has been hit by several tornadoes in the 2000s, including a damaging EF2 on May 8, 2008, that was caught on tape flipping over many cars and damaging buildings.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code35646

Area code256

Living in Leighton

Housing in Leighton

$159K▲ 7.1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Leighton home is worth about $159,000, up 7.1% in a year, 34% below the Alabama typical home.

Only 2 sales in March 2026, too few for a market read. The typical value is the steadier guide.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Leighton

—

Not graded

Leighton has fewer than 1,000 residents. At that size one or two incidents swing the numbers so much that a grade wouldn't be fair, so we show the counts instead.

Violent7

Property8

Reported in 202415

FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Leighton

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Leighton for work: only 2% work in town. The top destinations are Muscle Shoals (23%), Florence (10%) and Huntsville (8%). Half commute less than 11 miles.

Muscle Shoals

23%

Florence

10%

Huntsville

Sheffield

2%Work in townlive and work in Leighton 11 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 65Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Leighton →

Health in Leighton

Compared with Alabama

1better than AL·17worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 14 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 6▼ 5 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 2▼ 5 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

7.1%Fewer adults who have had cancerAL 8.2% · better 23.1%More older adults who have lost all their teethAL 15.4% · worse

Care nearby

North Alabama Shoals HospitalMuscle Shoals · 9.6 mi · ER

Family Health Care Clinic, Inc. --Town CreekTown Creek · 5.8 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Leighton · CMS · HRSAHealth in Leighton →

Natural hazards in Leighton

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 62% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🏚️ Earthquakes

0Does Leighton flood?no paid flood claims on record 2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Leighton

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Leighton →

Climate in Leighton

Full climate →

Leighton has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 30°, and about 2 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

54° / 32°Winter

73° / 48°Spring

89° / 67°Summer

74° / 49°Fall

How much snow does Leighton get?About 2 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 3, with the last in spring around Mar 30.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.6° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Leighton →

Schools in Leighton

All Leighton schools →

C⁺

School Grade C+

The public schools Leighton’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 61% of Alabama’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

DistrictColbert CountySchools2

Leighton Elementary School C-Elementary · Grades PK–6 · 355 students Colbert County High School CHigh · Grades 7–12 · 438 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within AL. Ratings are from neighbors.