Gadsden is a metro area of 103,105 people. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $167,100. 2% of people across the metro were born outside the United States. Owners hold 74% of the housing stock. Renters pay $847 a month at the median.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $54,563, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 38%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Gadsden
What changed most since 1990
White share85.0% → 76.2%(−8.8 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Adults with a bachelor's degree10.2% → 18.1%(+7.9 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Hispanic share0.4% → 5.2%(+4.8 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts
Among the 24 metro and micro areas based in Alabama
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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)23.5%(1,198)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)24%(1,223)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era30.8%(1,570)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War5.2%(266)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.4%(21)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 5,102 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
Over time
Gadsden, decade by decade
Gadsden population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
99,840
$53,555
$101,763
10.2%
32.4
2000
103,459
$56,781
$121,140
13.4%
38.1
2010
104,430
$52,396
$141,268
15.8%
43.4
2020
103,436
$54,462
$150,778
17.7%
51.4
2024
103,105
$54,563
$167,100
18.1%
49.3
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
