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CITY

Rainbow City

Alabama · 10,406 residents (2025 est.) · 25.649 sq mi
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The short version

Rainbow City has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $56,398. Population has grown 22% since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $223,000.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
10,284
+22%since 2000
from 8,428 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
401 / sq mi
+22%since 2000
from 329 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
41.7
+7%since 2000
from 39.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:10,406 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7K8K9K10K11K1990201020202024Rainbow City
202410K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,398
−23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,216 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,440
+89%since 2000
from $20,860 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.5%
+7.9 ptssince 2009
from 28.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.0%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 8.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.541
+29%since 2010
from 0.419 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information16.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade11.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services7.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration6.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food3.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Finance & insurance2.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
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
$223,000
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $103,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,048
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $489 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
65.6%
−2.2 ptssince 2000
from 67.9% in 2000
34.4% rent
Vacancy rate
12.0%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.2%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
54.0%
+21.5 ptssince 2009
from 32.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.0
+53%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
27
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rainbow City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.3%(7,779)
Black3.5%(296)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(122)
Asian1.4%(122)
Other0%
Diversity Score15.5%(1,305)
2024
White, non-Hispanic79.1%(8,132)
Black11.8%(1,216)
Hispanic / Latino2.3%(240)
Asian2.4%(251)
Other4.3%(445)
Diversity Score44.7%(4,599)
Diversity Score
45
+189%since 2000
from 15 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.8%
−4.5 ptssince 2000
from 25.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
83.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2000
from 85.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 8.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.7 min
+54%since 2000
from 17.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.4%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 83.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.0%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.4%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% 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
4.1%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
10.3%
+2.8 ptssince 2011
from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.3%
−5.3 ptssince 2011
from 60.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.3%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.3%
−33.9 ptssince 2009
from 66.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.5%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
Female
54.5%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
Foreign born
4.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.1%
−40.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
20.0%
+1.9 ptssince 2012
from 18.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.5%
−73.0 ptssince 2013
from 83.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.8%
+10.3 ptssince 2017
from 79.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.0%
−3.5 ptssince 2016
from 98.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 0.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Rainbow City to nearby cities

RAINBOW CITY VS
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Income$76,487+36%
Home value$226,500+2%
Population9,718−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RAINBOW CITY VS
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Income$40,345−28%
Home value$116,800−48%
Population33,367+221%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RAINBOW CITY VS
Boaz
Income$49,846−12%
Home value$199,200−11%
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RAINBOW CITY VS
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Income$49,753−12%
Home value$116,400−48%
Population10,681+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Rainbow City, Alabama?

Rainbow City, Alabama has about 10,284 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Rainbow City, Alabama?

The typical household in Rainbow City, Alabama earns about $56,398 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rainbow City, Alabama expensive?

In Rainbow City, Alabama, the median home is worth about $223,000, and the typical rent is about $1,048 a month.

How educated are people in Rainbow City, Alabama?

About 20.8% of adults age 25 and over in Rainbow City, Alabama hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Rainbow City, Alabama?

About 10.0% of people in Rainbow City, Alabama live below the federal poverty line.

Has Rainbow City, Alabama grown since 1990?

Yes, Rainbow City, Alabama has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,611 residents, a change of about 34 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →