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COUNTY

Pickens County

Alabama · 18,221 residents (2025 est.) · 881.408 sq mi
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The short version

Pickens County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $46,274. Population has declined 11% since 2000. 13% 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 $123,900. The poverty rate of 20.0% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 28% less than the Alabama median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
13% 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
18,721
−11%since 2000
from 20,949 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
21 / sq mi
−4%since 2009
from 22 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.2
+14%since 2000
from 36.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:18,221 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
18K19K20K21K21K1990201020202024Pickens County
202419K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55%(932)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.7%(882)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146%(1,117)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.4%(1,206)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.7%(1,068)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.9%(2,406)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.7%(2,563)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.5%(2,155)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.3%(2,669)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.6%(2,174)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.9%(1,099)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.4%(450)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,274
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,254 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,934
+103%since 2000
from $13,746 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
32.9%
+17.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.0%
−4.9 ptssince 2000
from 24.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.475
+5%since 2010
from 0.453 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade22.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade11.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Information10.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance7.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$123,900
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $57,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$648
+45%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $245 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
75.8%
−3.5 ptssince 2000
from 79.3% in 2000
24.2% rent
Vacancy rate
22.5%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.1%
−7.5 ptssince 2009
from 25.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
27.8%
−11.7 ptssince 2009
from 39.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
−1%since 2009
from 2.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
37
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Pickens County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic55.7%(11,676)
Black42.7%(8,940)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(147)
Asian0.1%(22)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic52.8%(9,888)
Black40.9%(7,649)
Hispanic / Latino3.6%(666)
Asian0.1%(10)
Other2.7%(508)
Diversity Score
69
+9%since 2009
from 63 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
22
−31%since 2020
from 31 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
Mexican0.6%(106)
Cuban0.1%(27)
Colombian0.1%(13)
Spaniard0.1%(13)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
American14.7%(2,761)
English6.6%(1,238)
Irish6.3%(1,185)
German2.9%(535)
Scottish0.9%(173)
Scotch-Irish0.8%(147)
French0.6%(113)
Dutch0.5%(93)
Italian0.4%(78)
Welsh0.2%(43)
Polish0.1%(26)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
Swiss0%(8)
British0%(5)
Slovene0%(3)
Arab0%(2)
Russian0%(2)
Kenyan0%(2)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.1%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 9.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
85.3%
+15.6 ptssince 2000
from 69.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.0%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
32.6 min
+47%since 2000
from 22.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
90.2%
+9.1 ptssince 2009
from 81.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
3.8%
−9.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.0%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% 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
7.1%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.7%
−9.2 ptssince 2011
from 14.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
45.5%
−6.9 ptssince 2011
from 52.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.4%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 16.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.7%
−28.5 ptssince 2009
from 57.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.5%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
Female
49.5%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 53.0% in 2009
Foreign born
2.9%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.1%
−38.7 ptssince 2009
from 45.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
22.2%
−1.9 ptssince 2012
from 24.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.5%
−80.6 ptssince 2013
from 88.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
80.1%
+19.2 ptssince 2017
from 60.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.5%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 97.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.0%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 2.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married39.1%(3,094)
Married47.2%(3,736)
Widowed3%(234)
Divorced10.7%(849)
Women 15+
Never married32.1%(2,527)
Married40.5%(3,189)
Widowed11.7%(923)
Divorced15.7%(1,238)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Pickens County

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Pop 19,100
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Pop 19,080
Butler County
Pop 18,100
Sharp County
Pop 18,122
Places similar to Pickens County
Head to head

Compare Pickens County to nearby counties

PICKENS COUNTY VS
Lowndes County
Income$53,812+16%
Home value$164,100+32%
Population57,346+215%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PICKENS COUNTY VS
Noxubee County
Income$33,833−27%
Home value$90,800−27%
Population9,798−46%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PICKENS COUNTY VS
Greene County
Income$29,200−37%
Home value$81,200−34%
Population7,067−61%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PICKENS COUNTY VS
Tuscaloosa County
Income$66,231+43%
Home value$248,700+101%
Population241,368+1225%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Pickens County, Alabama?

Pickens County, Alabama has about 18,721 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Pickens County, Alabama earns about $46,274 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Pickens County, Alabama expensive?

In Pickens County, Alabama, the median home is worth about $123,900, and the typical rent is about $648 a month.

How educated are people in Pickens County, Alabama?

About 13.1% of adults age 25 and over in Pickens County, Alabama hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Pickens County, Alabama?

About 20.0% of people in Pickens County, Alabama live below the federal poverty line.

Has Pickens County, Alabama grown since 1990?

Yes, Pickens County, Alabama has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,978 residents, a change of about -10 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

6 census tracts
Census Tract 503Census Tract 500Census Tract 501Census Tract 504.02Census Tract 504.01Census Tract 502
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 35442ZIP 35466ZIP 35447ZIP 35481ZIP 35461
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →