Anniston, Alabama Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Anniston, Alabama had a total population of 21,271, the 32nd largest city in Alabama, with a median household income of $46,668, which is 27% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 20.6%.
Anniston Quick Facts
How Anniston Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,688 | 21,271 | -1.9% |
| Median household income | $44,368 | $46,668 | No clear change (+5.2%) |
| Median home value¹ | $120,117 | $158,800 | +32.2% |
| Median gross rent | $827 | $799 | No clear change (-3.4%) |
How Anniston Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 41.5%
- Black: 50.4%
- Hispanic: 4.2%
- Asian: 0.4%
- Other: 0.6%
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 53 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 16.3%
- HS Diploma: 32.7%
- Some College: 24.7%
- Associate's: 5.8%
- Bachelor's: 12.8%
- Graduate+: 7.7%
Anniston Rankings in Alabama
Explore Alabama Rankings
Other Cities in Calhoun County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford | 22,063 | $74,268 | 15.8% | $170,900 |
| Jacksonville | 14,437 | $51,814 | 23.1% | $185,500 |
| Saks | 10,681 | $49,753 | 20.0% | $116,400 |
| Southside | 9,483 | $76,487 | 4.4% | $226,500 |
| Glencoe | 5,353 | $68,517 | 10.6% | $206,100 |
| Piedmont | 4,740 | $40,506 | 19.9% | $114,800 |
| Alexandria | 3,475 | $85,089 | 11.0% | $197,700 |
| West End-Cobb Town | 3,453 | $55,323 | 22.7% | $83,900 |
| Weaver | 3,324 | $49,435 | 15.7% | $162,300 |
| Choccolocco | 2,620 | $78,858 | 8.6% | $262,900 |
Cities Similar to Anniston
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albertville | 22,813 | $56,099 | $188,400 | 21.1% | 18.2% |
| Troy | 17,716 | $50,717 | $231,400 | 39.7% | 25.0% |
| Cullman | 19,319 | $61,224 | $238,900 | 32.4% | 19.9% |
| Prichard | 18,961 | $36,588 | $85,700 | 10.8% | 30.6% |
| Bessemer | 25,400 | $39,613 | $135,900 | 15.6% | 28.0% |
Population Overview
Anniston is a small city located in Alabama, within Calhoun County. The total population is 21,271. It ranks as the 32nd most populous out of 592 Census-designated places in Alabama.
Age Demographics
The median age in Anniston is 42.8 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 39.3 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Anniston is $46,668. This is 27% lower than the state median of $63,999. It is also 42% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.6%. This is 32% higher than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 6.3%. This is 35% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $158,800. Housing costs are 24% lower than the state median of $209,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 58.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% lower than the state average of 70.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Anniston is Black or African American, making up 50.4% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 41.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (50.4% vs 25.6%). The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.
Education
20.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 28% lower than the state rate of 28.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 83.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Anniston, Alabama is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Alabama state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 592 Census-designated places in Alabama. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Anniston, Alabama?
Anniston, Alabama has a population of 21,271 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Anniston, AL?
The median household income in Anniston is $46,668, which is 42% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Anniston, AL?
The poverty rate in Anniston is 20.6%. This means approximately 4,159 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Anniston, Alabama?
Anniston's population is 41.5% White, 50.4% Black, 4.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.4% Asian.
What is the median home value in Anniston, AL?
The median home value in Anniston is $158,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x.
How educated is Anniston, Alabama?
20.5% of adults (25+) in Anniston hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 7.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.