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METRO AREA

Decatur Metro

Decatur, AL · 2 counties · 160,326 residents (2025 est.) · 1,270.353 sq mi
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The short version

Decatur has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $68,260. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 22% 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 $203,625.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 42%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
157,747
+8%since 2000
from 145,867 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
124 / sq mi
+8%since 2000
from 115 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.5
+11%since 2000
from 36.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:160,326 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
129K137K145K153K160K1990201020202024Decatur
2024158K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$68,260
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,311 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,213
+90%since 2000
from $18,577 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
45.7%
+21.6 ptssince 2009
from 24.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 13.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.444
+3%since 2010
from 0.430 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade20.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$203,625
+42%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $78,481 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$841
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $413 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2000
from 75.5% in 2000
25.4% rent
Vacancy rate
9.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.7%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.7%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 35.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.0
+38%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
56
RELATED:See current rent listings in Decatur on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic81.9%(119,483)
Black11.7%(16,996)
Hispanic / Latino2.8%(4,012)
Asian0.4%(524)
Other0%
Diversity Score33.3%(48,632)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic72.9%(114,920)
Black11.8%(18,681)
Hispanic / Latino9%(14,204)
Asian0.6%(884)
Other5.7%(9,058)
Diversity Score55.5%(87,513)
Segregation Score43.1%(67,977)
Diversity Score
55
+66%since 2000
from 33 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
43
+1%since 2020
from 43 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.6%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 15.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
85.7%
+11.9 ptssince 2000
from 73.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.5%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 5.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.0 min
+65%since 2000
from 15.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
83.0%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 85.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.2%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.5%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.7%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.3%
−6.4 ptssince 2011
from 9.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.6%
−4.6 ptssince 2011
from 62.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.5%
−24.0 ptssince 2009
from 57.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
50.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
4.6%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.0%
−40.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.3%
+1.9 ptssince 2012
from 16.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.3%
−74.0 ptssince 2013
from 84.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.5%
+17.6 ptssince 2017
from 67.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.2%
−1.6 ptssince 2016
from 93.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2016
from 5.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

DecaturCENTRAL58,056
What's inside

2 component counties

Morgan CountyCENTRAL126,483Lawrence County33,843
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Decatur

Jackson
Pop 159,552
Bangor
Pop 157,967
Dalton
Pop 147,819
Bloomington
Pop 165,231
Places similar to Decatur
Head to head

Compare Decatur side by side

DECATUR VS
Jackson
Income$66,073−3%
Home value$193,700−5%
Population159,552same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DECATUR VS
Bangor
Income$66,356−3%
Home value$214,100+5%
Population157,967−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DECATUR VS
Dalton
Income$67,684−1%
Home value$207,505+2%
Population147,819−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DECATUR VS
Bloomington
Income$65,416−4%
Home value$270,210+33%
Population165,231+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Decatur, AL?

Decatur, AL has about 157,747 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Decatur, AL?

The typical household in Decatur, AL earns about $68,260 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Decatur, AL expensive?

In Decatur, AL, the median home is worth about $203,625, and the typical rent is about $841 a month.

How educated are people in Decatur, AL?

About 21.6% of adults age 25 and over in Decatur, AL hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Decatur, AL?

About 13.4% of people in Decatur, AL live below the federal poverty line.

Has Decatur, AL grown since 1990?

Yes, Decatur, AL has grown since 1990. The population has added about 26,191 residents, a change of about 20 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →