CensusEasy
CITY

Muscle Shoals

Alabama · 17,666 residents (2025 est.) · 16.868 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Florence metro area
Compare
The short version

Muscle Shoals has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $75,894. Population has grown 42% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $199,700.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 26%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
16,951
+42%since 2000
from 11,924 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,005 / sq mi
+42%since 2000
from 707 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.0
+2%since 2000
from 37.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:17,666 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
9K11K13K15K18K1990201020202024Muscle Shoals
202417K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$75,894
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,216 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,651
+69%since 2000
from $21,113 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
50.6%
+20.7 ptssince 2009
from 29.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.8%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 7.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.403
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.404 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade4.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Education & health services4.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration3.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Professional, scientific, technical1.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$199,700
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $86,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,029
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $485 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
67.1%
−6.9 ptssince 2000
from 74.1% in 2000
32.9% rent
Vacancy rate
4.7%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.2%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
24.6%
−15.7 ptssince 2009
from 40.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
+22%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
47
RELATED:See current rent listings in Muscle Shoals on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic83.3%(9,927)
Black14%(1,674)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(138)
Asian0.6%(67)
Other0%
Diversity Score34.1%(4,065)
2024
White, non-Hispanic77.3%(13,107)
Black15.3%(2,599)
Hispanic / Latino3.1%(519)
Asian1.4%(235)
Other2.9%(491)
Diversity Score47.1%(7,981)
Diversity Score
47
+38%since 2000
from 34 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.0%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 20.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.2%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 84.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.3%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 7.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.7 min
+68%since 2000
from 12.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.7%
−10.0 ptssince 2009
from 87.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.7%
+11.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.3%
−3.8 ptssince 2011
from 6.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.8%
+3.1 ptssince 2011
from 60.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.2%
−6.6 ptssince 2009
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
41.9%
−24.0 ptssince 2009
from 65.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
44.7%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
Female
55.3%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 53.1% in 2009
Foreign born
2.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.1%
−38.3 ptssince 2009
from 46.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.5%
−3.3 ptssince 2012
from 14.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.6%
−84.4 ptssince 2013
from 92.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.2%
+10.9 ptssince 2017
from 77.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.4%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 98.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.9%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Muscle Shoals

Seminole
Pop 18,997
Davenport
Pop 18,110
Mount Dora
Pop 18,791
Longwood
Pop 16,892
Places similar to Muscle Shoals
Head to head

Compare Muscle Shoals to nearby cities

MUSCLE SHOALS VS
Sheffield
Income$39,733−48%
Home value$133,800−33%
Population9,416−47%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MUSCLE SHOALS VS
Tuscumbia
Income$59,143−22%
Home value$196,700−2%
Population9,332−47%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MUSCLE SHOALS VS
Florence
Income$52,174−31%
Home value$196,300−2%
Population42,581+141%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MUSCLE SHOALS VS
Russellville
Income$58,231−23%
Home value$123,800−38%
Population10,904−38%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Muscle Shoals, Alabama?

Muscle Shoals, Alabama has about 16,951 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Muscle Shoals, Alabama?

The typical household in Muscle Shoals, Alabama earns about $75,894 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Muscle Shoals, Alabama expensive?

In Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the median home is worth about $199,700, and the typical rent is about $1,029 a month.

How educated are people in Muscle Shoals, Alabama?

About 24.0% of adults age 25 and over in Muscle Shoals, Alabama hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Muscle Shoals, Alabama?

About 12.8% of people in Muscle Shoals, Alabama live below the federal poverty line.

Has Muscle Shoals, Alabama grown since 1990?

Yes, Muscle Shoals, Alabama has grown since 1990. The population has added about 7,340 residents, a change of about 76 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Alabama
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Muscle Shoals with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Muscle Shoals, Alabama: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy