Carbon Hill, Alabama Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Carbon Hill, Alabama had a total population of 1,536, the 260th largest city in Alabama, with a median household income of $24,605, which is 62% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 39.4%.
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 62% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (39.4%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Only 3.6% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 2.3%.
Carbon Hill Quick Facts
How Carbon Hill 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 | 1,441 | 1,536 | No clear change (+6.6%) |
| Median household income | $35,523 | $24,605 | No clear change (-30.7%) |
| Median home value¹ | $79,135 | $61,100 | No clear change (-22.8%) |
| Median gross rent | $713 | $557 | No clear change (-21.8%) |
How Carbon Hill 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: 81.0%
- Black: 13.4%
- Hispanic: 3.1%
- Asian: 0.0%
- Other: 1.2%
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 53 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 28.6%
- HS Diploma: 36.0%
- Some College: 26.1%
- Associate's: 5.7%
- Bachelor's: 2.2%
- Graduate+: 1.5%
Carbon Hill Rankings in Alabama
Explore Alabama Rankings
Other Cities in Walker County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasper | 14,442 | $66,238 | 16.0% | $215,700 |
| Dora | 2,668 | $61,892 | 18.3% | $155,100 |
| Cordova | 1,511 | $37,662 | 29.0% | $87,100 |
| Parrish | 1,222 | $32,798 | 29.8% | $56,800 |
| Oakman | 934 | $35,208 | 25.0% | $92,600 |
| Sipsey | 288 | $26,750 | 26.4% | $101,000 |
| Nauvoo | 189 | $45,625 | 26.5% | N/A |
| Kansas | 186 | $49,583 | 7.5% | $48,300 |
| Eldridge | 133 | $98,542 | 10.1% | $131,300 |
Cities Similar to Carbon Hill
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgiana | 1,578 | $24,321 | $69,100 | 6.9% | 24.1% |
| Fort Deposit | 1,525 | $21,563 | $78,000 | 9.7% | 47.7% |
| Midland City | 1,603 | $28,438 | $150,400 | 7.8% | 30.6% |
| Clio | 1,422 | $28,750 | $65,600 | 7.6% | 38.9% |
| Florala | 1,822 | N/A | $91,600 | 7.8% | 16.5% |
Population Overview
Carbon Hill is a small community located in Alabama, within Walker County. The total population is 1,536. It ranks as the 260th most populous out of 592 Census-designated places in Alabama.
Age Demographics
The median age in Carbon Hill is 46.5 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 39.3 years. 11.8% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Carbon Hill is $24,605. This is 62% lower than the state median of $63,999. It is also 70% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 39.4%. This is 152% 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 2.3%. This is 52% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $61,100. Housing costs are 71% lower than the state median of $209,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Carbon Hill is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 64.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 70.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Carbon Hill is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 13.4%.
Education
3.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 87% 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 71.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Carbon Hill, 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 Carbon Hill, Alabama?
Carbon Hill, Alabama has a population of 1,536 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Carbon Hill, AL?
The median household income in Carbon Hill is $24,605, which is 70% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Carbon Hill, AL?
The poverty rate in Carbon Hill is 39.4%. This means approximately 582 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Carbon Hill, Alabama?
Carbon Hill's population is 81.0% White, 13.4% Black, 3.1% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Carbon Hill, AL?
The median home value in Carbon Hill is $61,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.5x.
How educated is Carbon Hill, Alabama?
3.6% of adults (25+) in Carbon Hill hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 1.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.