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CITY · 2020 ACS

Sylacauga

Alabama · 12,578 residents · 20.3 sq mi
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The short version

Sylacauga is a city of 12,578 people in Alabama. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. The poverty rate is 26.1%, above the 12.8% national rate. The foreign-born share is 2%. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $134,500. Households here earn about 29% less than in Alabama as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 41.6
US median: 38.8
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

12,578
Unchangedsince 2000
from 12,616 in 2000
1990 – 2025
41.6
+7%since 2000
from 38.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
20.3 sq mi
Population, 19902024
12K12K13K13K13K19902000201020202024Sylacauga
202412K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.5%(686)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.1%(763)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.4%(807)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.3%(797)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.9%(739)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.1%(1,523)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.7%(1,471)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.9%(1,499)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.1%(1,778)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7411.5%(1,442)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.9%(739)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.7%(334)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$37,093
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,533 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$22,269
+37%since 2000
from $16,209 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
23.4%
+7.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
26.1%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 21.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade22.8%
US avg: 10%
Information6.6%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services6.5%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance4.7%
US avg: 5.5%
Public administration4.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.5%
US avg: 1.7%
Wholesale trade2.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.5%
Manufacturing2%
US avg: 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.8%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$134,500
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $74,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$659
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $322 in 2000
US average: $1,124
54.3%
−6.6 ptssince 2000
from 61.0% in 2000
45.7% rent
2.29 people
−4%since 2009
from 2.38 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
3.6
+17%since 2009
from 3.1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic68.8%(8,676)
Black28.8%(3,629)
Hispanic / Latino1%(123)
Asian0.3%(37)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic59.3%(7,457)
Black34.3%(4,311)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(280)
Asian0.5%(69)
Other3.5%(435)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.4%(290)
Pacific Islander origin
Marshallese0.8%(93)
Ancestry
American20.3%(2,468)
Irish10.2%(1,238)
English6.1%(744)
German5.9%(712)
Scotch-Irish2.2%(265)
Scottish1.6%(194)
Italian1%(121)
Norwegian0.8%(100)
French0.8%(98)
Swedish0.6%(67)
Dutch0.5%(63)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.4%(44)
West Indian0.3%(41)
Haitian0.3%(41)
Czech0.3%(37)
British0.2%(21)
Russian0.2%(19)
Polish0.1%(18)
Romanian0.1%(8)
Section 05

Education

16.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 16.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
84.7%
+13.6 ptssince 2000
from 71.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
6.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 6.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

21.1 min
+29%since 2000
from 16.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
87.9%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 83.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
11.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

8.9%
−3.1 ptssince 2011
from 12.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
52.1%
−2.1 ptssince 2011
from 54.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
59.7%
US average: 73.3%
33.1%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 27.8% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

45.7%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.2% in 2009
54.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 53.8% in 2009
2.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
8.3%
−3.8 ptssince 2013
from 12.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
87.6%
US average: 91.9%
79.7%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
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
Section 09

Health coverage

8.3%
−3.8 ptssince 2013
from 12.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
45.8%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
16.5%
US average: 13.7%
25.9%
US average: 17.6%
29.0%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
1.9%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
59.3%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
47.5%
US average: 35.2%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)13.9%(99)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)22.4%(159)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era44.8%(318)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War3.9%(28)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II4.5%(32)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 710 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Sylacauga, Alabama?

Sylacauga, Alabama has about 12,578 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sylacauga, Alabama?

The typical household in Sylacauga, Alabama earns about $37,093 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 $134,500, and the typical rent is about $659 a month.

How educated are people in Sylacauga, Alabama?

About 16.9% 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 26.1% of people in Sylacauga, Alabama live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sylacauga, Alabama grown since 1990?

Yes, Sylacauga, Alabama has grown since 1990. The population has added about 58 residents, a change of about 0 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 →

Sylacauga, Alabama (2020): demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy