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COUNTY

Fayette County

Alabama · 15,872 residents (2025 est.) · 627.684 sq mi
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The short version

Fayette County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $49,488. Population has declined 13% since 2000. 15% 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 $125,900. The poverty rate of 21.8% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% 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
16,053
−13%since 2000
from 18,495 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
26 / sq mi
−9%since 2009
from 28 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
43.3
+11%since 2000
from 39.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:15,872 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
16K17K17K18K19K1990201020202024Fayette County
202416K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.7%(752)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.1%(987)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.1%(987)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.2%(1,154)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.2%(828)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.1%(1,780)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.8%(1,891)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.1%(1,935)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.9%(2,230)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.7%(2,046)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.6%(1,221)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.5%(242)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$49,488
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,539 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,795
+106%since 2000
from $14,439 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.7%
+18.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
21.8%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 17.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.494
+18%since 2010
from 0.418 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade24.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services1.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Other services1.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration1.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0.6%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$125,900
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $56,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$667
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $283 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
78.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 77.3% in 2000
21.6% rent
Vacancy rate
19.9%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.5%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 18.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
26.3%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 31.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
+27%since 2009
from 2.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
43
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Fayette County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic86.5%(15,994)
Black11.9%(2,199)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(152)
Asian0.2%(28)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic83.2%(13,362)
Black11.1%(1,777)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(150)
Asian0%(8)
Other4.7%(756)
Diversity Score
37
+13%since 2009
from 32 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
26
−34%since 2020
from 39 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.5%(83)
Peruvian0.4%(64)
Asian origin
Korean0%(8)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.1%(22)
Ancestry
American22.1%(3,554)
English12.3%(1,969)
Irish7.5%(1,197)
German3%(477)
Italian2.2%(356)
Scottish1.9%(302)
French0.9%(145)
Nigerian0.7%(106)
Danish0.5%(80)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(79)
Swedish0.4%(68)
+ 12 more ancestry groups with data
West Indian0.4%(65)
Croatian0.4%(64)
Norwegian0.4%(59)
Polish0.3%(51)
Welsh0.1%(24)
Greek0.1%(18)
Czech0.1%(16)
Dutch0.1%(15)
Austrian0.1%(9)
British0%(1)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.9%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 9.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
85.7%
+19.6 ptssince 2000
from 66.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.8%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 3.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.6 min
+41%since 2000
from 20.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
88.9%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 83.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.9%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.9%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.2%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% 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
7.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.4%
+1.4 ptssince 2011
from 7.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
51.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2011
from 51.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.0%
−20.1 ptssince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
Female
50.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
Foreign born
0.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.1%
−41.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
23.2%
−0.9 ptssince 2012
from 24.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.7%
−80.3 ptssince 2013
from 88.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
80.9%
+16.8 ptssince 2017
from 64.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 99.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married24.2%(1,546)
Married59.4%(3,792)
Widowed4%(254)
Divorced12.3%(787)
Women 15+
Never married25.4%(1,764)
Married49.5%(3,436)
Widowed12.8%(889)
Divorced12.4%(859)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Fayette County to nearby counties

FAYETTE COUNTY VS
Lamar County
Income$50,000+1%
Home value$114,000−9%
Population13,587−14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FAYETTE COUNTY VS
Walker County
Income$56,509+14%
Home value$135,900+8%
Population65,140+310%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FAYETTE COUNTY VS
Marion County
Income$50,088+1%
Home value$106,600−15%
Population29,097+83%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FAYETTE COUNTY VS
Tuscaloosa County
Income$66,231+34%
Home value$248,700+98%
Population241,368+1421%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Fayette County, Alabama?

Fayette County, Alabama has about 16,053 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Fayette County, Alabama?

The typical household in Fayette County, Alabama earns about $49,488 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Fayette County, Alabama expensive?

In Fayette County, Alabama, the median home is worth about $125,900, and the typical rent is about $667 a month.

How educated are people in Fayette County, Alabama?

About 14.9% of adults age 25 and over in Fayette County, Alabama hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Fayette County, Alabama?

About 21.8% of people in Fayette County, Alabama live below the federal poverty line.

Has Fayette County, Alabama grown since 1990?

Yes, Fayette County, Alabama has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,909 residents, a change of about -11 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 202Census Tract 203Census Tract 204Census Tract 201Census Tract 200
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 35555ZIP 35594ZIP 35549ZIP 35542ZIP 35554ZIP 35559ZIP 35545
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →