Population 25,443 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Cherokee County
Household size in Cherokee County
| Period | Cherokee County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.22 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.20 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.38 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.57 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.35 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Cherokee County run a little small, averaging 2.57 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.22, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the north.
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 Cherokee County
| Period | Cherokee County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.7 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.4 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.9 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.6 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Cherokee County skews older: half of its residents are older than 47.6, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 43.7 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only one other Alabama county is older.
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 Cherokee County
| Period | Cherokee County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Cherokee County: 7.8% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Only one other Alabama county has a lower share of single-parent households.
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 Cherokee County
Renters in Cherokee County
| Period | Cherokee County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.5% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.7% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.7% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.9% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 18.9% of households in Cherokee County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 63.0% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 3.5 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Of Alabama's 67 counties, only six have a lower share of renters.
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 Cherokee County
| Period | Cherokee County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.7% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.4% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 32.3% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 28.9% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Cherokee County: 28.9% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 3.2 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 Cherokee County
| Period | Cherokee County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1982 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Cherokee County are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1984, versus 1980 across the U.S. That is in line with the rest of Alabama. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the southwest.
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 Cherokee County
| Period | Cherokee County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $473 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $637 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $646 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $851 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$379 | +$375 | +$606 |
The median renter in Cherokee County pays $851 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $379 a month from 2006–10, an 80% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 28.8% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the northeast and lowest in the center.
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 Cherokee County
Bachelor's degrees in Cherokee County
| Period | Cherokee County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.7% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.1% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.1% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Cherokee County: 17.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 6.2 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the east.
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 Cherokee County
| Period | Cherokee County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 73.8% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 79.1% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 82.0% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 82.5% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.7 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in six adults in Cherokee County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 82.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 8.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Cherokee County has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five Alabama counties.
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 Cherokee County
| Period | Cherokee County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.7 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Cherokee County than nationally: unemployment was 4.4%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 7.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Cherokee County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee County | 2.57 | 47.6 | 7.8% | 18.9% | 28.9% | 1984 | $851 | 17.1% | 82.5% | 4.4% |
| Etowah County | 2.62 | 42.4 | 12.3% | 26.1% | 16.5% | 1977 | $928 | 18.0% | 85.4% | 6.3% |
| Floyd County | 2.66 | 38.5 | 14.0% | 36.4% | 10.7% | 1978 | $1,016 | 26.6% | 84.2% | 4.1% |
| Polk County | 2.79 | 38.9 | 17.6% | 34.0% | 9.4% | 1983 | $983 | 15.9% | 85.4% | 5.5% |
| Bartow County | 2.79 | 39.5 | 10.9% | 27.2% | 10.6% | 1993 | $1,358 | 24.3% | 88.4% | 4.5% |
| Cherokee County | 2.80 | 41.0 | 9.4% | 22.7% | 5.8% | 2000 | $1,840 | 41.8% | 92.2% | 3.3% |
| Cullman County | 2.58 | 40.9 | 11.2% | 23.4% | 10.9% | 1988 | $993 | 19.7% | 86.4% | 4.2% |
| Forsyth County | 3.03 | 40.2 | 8.0% | 15.6% | 4.5% | 2004 | $2,242 | 57.3% | 94.5% | 3.5% |
| Hall County | 2.97 | 39.0 | 12.2% | 31.4% | 9.9% | 1995 | $1,493 | 26.8% | 80.2% | 3.4% |
| Winston County | 2.53 | 43.1 | 9.9% | 24.2% | 24.5% | 1986 | $828 | 14.1% | 77.7% | 3.8% |
| Jackson County | 3.01 | 38.5 | 8.2% | 20.7% | 7.6% | 2002 | $1,375 | 29.4% | 89.6% | 3.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Obion County, TN · Carbon County, UT · Caroline County, VA · Carroll County, IL · Carroll County, IN · Carroll County, OH · Carroll County, TN · Wasatch County, UT · Polk County, AR · Cheboygan County, MI
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 Cherokee County. 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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