Population 5,086,768 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Alabama
Household size in Alabama
| Period | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Alabama run a little small, averaging 2.56 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size is little changed from 2006–10, while the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Alabama
| Period | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Alabama are younger than 40.2 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.2, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Alabama
| Period | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in Alabama (12.2%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Compared with other states, Alabama has a higher share of single-parent households than most.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Alabama
Renters in Alabama
| Period | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
About three in ten households in Alabama rent their homes (29.8%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 46.5% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged up 0.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Alabama
| Period | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Alabama: 13.5% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Alabama has a higher vacancy rate than the great majority of states.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Alabama
| Period | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Alabama is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Alabama
| Period | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$375 | +$606 |
Rent in Alabama runs $1,091 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $375 a month since 2006–10, up 52%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.0% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Alabama
Bachelor's degrees in Alabama
| Period | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly three in ten adults 25 and older in Alabama (29.0%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.7 points, as it has nationally. Alabama has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five states.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Alabama
| Period | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Alabama have finished high school as nationally: 88.7%, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 6.4 points, as it has nationally. Alabama has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five states.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Alabama
| Period | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Alabama is close to the national rate: 4.9% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 3.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Alabama compared with nearby states
| State | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2.56 | 40.2 | 12.2% | 29.8% | 13.5% | 1986 | $1,091 | 29.0% | 88.7% | 4.9% |
| Mississippi | 2.57 | 39.4 | 14.6% | 30.0% | 14.1% | 1987 | $1,018 | 25.8% | 87.3% | 5.8% |
| Georgia | 2.73 | 38.6 | 13.4% | 34.3% | 10.3% | 1991 | $1,520 | 35.1% | 89.2% | 5.2% |
| Tennessee | 2.53 | 39.9 | 11.8% | 33.1% | 10.1% | 1986 | $1,286 | 31.4% | 89.9% | 4.8% |
| Louisiana | 2.59 | 39.0 | 15.2% | 32.6% | 14.4% | 1984 | $1,122 | 27.5% | 87.2% | 6.5% |
| Kentucky | 2.51 | 39.9 | 11.9% | 31.7% | 10.6% | 1982 | $1,024 | 27.6% | 88.8% | 5.1% |
| South Carolina | 2.50 | 41.2 | 11.7% | 28.1% | 11.8% | 1991 | $1,294 | 32.6% | 90.2% | 4.9% |
| Arkansas | 2.53 | 39.6 | 12.3% | 33.6% | 13.1% | 1988 | $1,007 | 26.2% | 88.7% | 5.1% |
| Florida | 2.63 | 43.5 | 11.4% | 32.4% | 12.5% | 1989 | $1,816 | 34.6% | 90.0% | 4.8% |
| North Carolina | 2.52 | 40.3 | 11.4% | 33.4% | 11.4% | 1990 | $1,317 | 36.2% | 90.2% | 4.8% |
| Missouri | 2.49 | 40.1 | 11.0% | 31.9% | 10.5% | 1978 | $1,122 | 32.6% | 91.8% | 4.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
States with similar populations: Hawaii · Alaska · Puerto Rico · Florida · Maine · Michigan · Texas · Washington · Arizona · Louisiana
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Alabama. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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