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CITY

Sylacauga

Alabama · 12,055 residents (2025 est.) · 20.255 sq mi
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The short version

Sylacauga has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $50,017. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 18% 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 $161,200. The poverty rate of 21.0% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% 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
12,309
−2%since 2000
from 12,616 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
608 / sq mi
−5%since 2009
from 640 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
37.4
−4%since 2000
from 38.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:12,055 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
12K12K13K13K13K1990201020202024Sylacauga
202412K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.2%(635)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.6%(933)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147%(866)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.8%(595)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.9%(485)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3419.9%(2,447)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 447.4%(917)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.1%(1,361)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.3%(1,632)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.2%(1,498)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.4%(664)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.2%(276)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$50,017
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,533 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,429
+57%since 2000
from $16,209 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
32.5%
+16.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
21.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 21.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.424
−9%since 2010
from 0.467 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade20.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services4.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance2.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade2.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing1.1%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$161,200
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $74,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$773
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $322 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
55.1%
−5.9 ptssince 2000
from 61.0% in 2000
44.9% rent
Vacancy rate
8.0%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.8%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
33.4%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 34.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+4%since 2009
from 3.1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
35
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sylacauga on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic68.8%(8,676)
Black28.8%(3,629)
Hispanic / Latino1%(123)
Asian0.3%(37)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic61.3%(7,541)
Black33.7%(4,142)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(183)
Asian0%(0)
Other3.6%(443)
Diversity Score
64
+16%since 2009
from 55 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.3%(166)
Panamanian0.1%(17)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English13.7%(1,692)
Irish10.1%(1,244)
American9.4%(1,151)
German4.3%(526)
Scottish1.6%(200)
West Indian1.4%(174)
Haitian1.4%(174)
Italian1.2%(151)
French1%(119)
Swedish0.7%(92)
Scotch-Irish0.7%(85)
Polish0.3%(33)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.2%(26)
British0.1%(18)
Arab0.1%(10)
Palestinian0.1%(10)
Canadian0.1%(10)
Welsh0.1%(9)
Greek0.1%(8)
Swiss0.1%(7)
Danish0%(5)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest German population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 16.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
85.4%
+14.3 ptssince 2000
from 71.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 6.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.1 min
+47%since 2000
from 16.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
86.6%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 83.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.2%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% 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
9.3%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.7%
−5.3 ptssince 2011
from 12.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.9%
+1.6 ptssince 2011
from 54.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.6%
+7.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.2%
−20.4 ptssince 2009
from 57.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
43.3%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 46.2% in 2009
Female
56.7%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 53.8% in 2009
Foreign born
1.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.5%
−38.5 ptssince 2009
from 44.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.4%
−2.3 ptssince 2012
from 21.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.8%
−82.1 ptssince 2013
from 87.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.6%
+18.9 ptssince 2017
from 73.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2016
from 96.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2016
from 2.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married29.4%(1,213)
Married58%(2,395)
Widowed3%(123)
Divorced9.6%(396)
Women 15+
Never married32.4%(1,864)
Married44.5%(2,559)
Widowed11.4%(658)
Divorced11.6%(667)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Compare Sylacauga to nearby cities

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Income$44,198−12%
Home value$121,900−24%
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SYLACAUGA VS
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SYLACAUGA VS
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SYLACAUGA VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Sylacauga, Alabama?

Sylacauga, Alabama has about 12,309 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sylacauga, Alabama?

The typical household in Sylacauga, Alabama earns about $50,017 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sylacauga, Alabama expensive?

In Sylacauga, Alabama, the median home is worth about $161,200, and the typical rent is about $773 a month.

How educated are people in Sylacauga, Alabama?

About 17.9% of adults age 25 and over in Sylacauga, Alabama hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sylacauga, Alabama?

About 21.0% of people in Sylacauga, Alabama live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sylacauga, Alabama grown since 1990?

Yes, Sylacauga, Alabama has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 211 residents, a change of about -2 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 →