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Cherokee County, Alabama Demographics 2026

Cherokee County, Alabama has a population of 25,443, the 40th most populous county in Alabama. The median household income is $53,863 and the median home value is $179,700. The poverty rate is 14.8%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Cherokee County Quick Facts

Population 25,443
Median Household Income $53,863
Median Home Value $179,700
Poverty Rate 14.8%
Unemployment Rate 3.9%
Median Age 47.5 years
Homeownership Rate 81.1%
Affordability Ratio 3.3x
Bachelor's Degree+ 16.5%
High School Graduation 82.4%
Cities/Places 6
Population 25,443 40th of 67
Median Income $53,863 16% lower than state
Poverty Rate 14.8%
Unemployment 3.9%

How Cherokee County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population25,22425,443+0.9%
Median household income$50,769$53,863+6.1%
Median home value$165,900$179,700+8.3%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 20.1%
$25K-$50K 25.9%
$50K-$100K 31.7%
$100K+ 22.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.3%
$10K-$15K
4.0%
$15K-$20K
5.9%
$20K-$25K
4.8%
$25K-$30K
3.2%
$30K-$35K
7.5%
$35K-$40K
5.5%
$40K-$45K
5.0%
$45K-$50K
4.7%
$50K-$60K
7.5%
$60K-$75K
13.1%
$75K-$100K
11.2%
$100K-$125K
7.6%
$125K-$150K
3.8%
$150K-$200K
5.4%
$200K+
5.5%

Employment

3.9% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%
49.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 81.1%
Renter 18.9%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.3x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $762/mo 17.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

18out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 53 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Cherokee County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Centre3,700$44,66421.1%$158,400
Cedar Bluff1,629$52,50029.3%$204,800
Leesburg998$56,87510.8%$182,500
Broomtown279N/A44.8%N/A
Spring Garden201$60,9190.0%$9,999
Gaylesville151$45,62515.2%$137,500

Population Overview

Cherokee County is located in Alabama with a total population of 25,443. It is the 40th most populous county out of 67 in Alabama. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cherokee County is 47.5 years. This is 21% higher than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cherokee County is $53,863. This is 16% lower than the state median of $63,999. It is also 33% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.8%. This is 6% lower than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 17% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $179,700. Housing costs are 14% lower than the state median of $209,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 81.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 70.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Cherokee County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.4% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 3.8%. The Black or African American population (3.8%) is well below the state average of 25.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 5.6%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

16.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% 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 82.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Cherokee County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Alabama and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Cherokee County, Alabama?

Cherokee County has a population of 25,443, making it the 40th most populous county in Alabama.

What is the median income in Cherokee County?

The median household income in Cherokee County is $53,863 with a poverty rate of 14.8%.

How many cities are in Cherokee County, Alabama?

Cherokee County contains 6 Census-designated places.