2017 · Sylvania-Municipal-Complex-al · Wikimedia Commons
Sylvania’s story
Sylvania in pictures
5 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
SylvaniaAL
A town of 1,925. Safer than 76% of U.S. towns.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0
Population
1,925
−2.6% since 2010
Typical home
$203K
+3.8% in a year
Household income
$56K
median
Median age
34.3
years
Jobs based here
280
A commuter town
What makes Sylvania stand out
The thing Sylvania does most differently from other towns.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Sylvania for work
Where Sylvania’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
280jobs based in Sylvania
1%of working residents work in town
12 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Sylvania’s report card
SafetyA−Less crime than 76% of U.S. townsCommute12 miHalf of commuters travel lessClimate87°/31°Summer high · winter low · 5″ snowHousing$203K16% below the AL typical homeHealthC+Healthier than 38% of U.S. townsSchoolsB−Beats 52% of AL districtsOutdoors0 miof trails · 1.3% conservedHazards49/100Moderate risk of storm & flood damage
Now in Sylvania
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Sylvania? Is an A− for safety right?
Your answer becomes a post in Sylvania’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Local news
All →- Sylvania vs Ider - Girls Middle School Basketball 11/12/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 30
- Sylvania vs New Hope - Boys Varsity Soccer 02/16/2027 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 29
- Sylvania vs North Sand Mtn. - Girls Varsity Basketball 12/17/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 29
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Sylvania. Another town gets a different order.
Safety
Less crime per resident than 76% of U.S. towns
Sylvania reports less crime per resident than 76% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.
A−Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Sylvania1.1
Alabama3.5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Sylvania7.7
Alabama15
U.S.15.5
76th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
92nd
percentile among AL towns
2
violent crimes reported in 2025
14
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Sylvania
Most working residents leave Sylvania for work: only 1% work in town. The top destinations are Fort Payne (25%), Rainsville (15%) and Huntsville (6%). Half commute less than 12 miles.
1%work in town
Where working residents work
In Sylvania1%
Fort Payne25%
Rainsville15%
Huntsville6%
Scottsboro5%
12 mi
median commute distance
280
jobs based in Sylvania
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Sylvania has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 31°, and about 5 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
5″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter33–52°
Spring48–70°
Summer65–86°
Fall49–71°
Oct 29
typical first frost
Apr 8
typical last frost
+0.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Housing
A typical Sylvania home is worth about $203K
The typical Sylvania home is worth about $203,000, up 3.8% in a year, 16% below the Alabama typical home.
$203KZillow home value
Typical home value
Sylvania$203K
Alabama$242K
+3.8%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Health
Healthier than 38% of U.S. towns
Sylvania beats the Alabama average on 5 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2.
C+Health Grade
32 measures vs. Alabama
5 better25 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Sylvania | AL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Fewer adults with diabetes | 12.1% | 14.8% |
| Fewer adults treating high blood pressure | 74.5% | 78% |
Dekalb Regional Medical Center
8.9 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: primary care
68th
percentile among AL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Schools
Sylvania’s public schools outperform 52% of Alabama districts
The public schools Sylvania’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 52% of Alabama’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
B−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvania School | PK–12 | 915 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AL on state tests and graduationAll 1 schools →
Outdoors
1.3% of Sylvania is conserved land
0.4 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves.
1.3%conserved
1.3%
conserved · 72 of 5,497 acres
0.4 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Sylvania Town Park | — | 15 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 49% of U.S. communities.
49risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
About Sylvania
Town in Alabama, United States
Sylvania is a town in DeKalb County, Alabama, United States. Established in 1836 and incorporated in October 1967, As of the 2020 census, Sylvania had a population of 1,790. Sylvania is located atop Sand Mountain. The first post office was built in 1977.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 1,790
- Area
- 8.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,388 ft
- ZIP code
- 35988
- Area code
- 256
Sylvania’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Sylvania.
RainsvilleSylvania
More about Sylvania
Still missing for Sylvania:upcoming events