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Dale County, Alabama Demographics 2026

Dale County, Alabama has a population of 49,599, the 28th most populous county in Alabama. The median household income is $54,963 and the median home value is $143,500. The poverty rate is 18.7%.

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

Dale County Quick Facts

Population 49,599
Median Household Income $54,963
Median Home Value $143,500
Poverty Rate 18.7%
Unemployment Rate 6.6%
Median Age 37.7 years
Homeownership Rate 61.9%
Affordability Ratio 2.6x
Bachelor's Degree+ 20.4%
High School Graduation 86.6%
Cities/Places 11
Population 49,599 28th of 67
Median Income $54,963 14% lower than state
Poverty Rate 18.7%
Unemployment 6.6%

How Dale 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
Population49,51649,599+0.2%
Median household income$53,955$54,963+1.9%
Median home value$129,100$143,500+11.2%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 24.1%
$25K-$50K 22.3%
$50K-$100K 31.2%
$100K+ 22.4%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
7.4%
$10K-$15K
5.5%
$15K-$20K
5.5%
$20K-$25K
5.7%
$25K-$30K
4.5%
$30K-$35K
4.8%
$35K-$40K
5.7%
$40K-$45K
3.3%
$45K-$50K
4.1%
$50K-$60K
6.7%
$60K-$75K
9.9%
$75K-$100K
14.5%
$100K-$125K
8.5%
$125K-$150K
4.2%
$150K-$200K
5.2%
$200K+
4.5%

Employment

6.6% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%
53.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 61.9%
Renter 38.1%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.6x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $889/mo 19.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

51out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 53 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Dale County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Ozark14,327$48,94428.1%$148,900
Daleville4,919$45,32416.4%$126,000
Fort Rucker4,705$74,54111.3%N/A
Level Plains1,667$77,00012.1%$137,500
Midland City1,603$28,43830.6%$150,400
Newton1,329$60,03015.0%$89,500
Pinckard672$58,16213.7%$158,900
Ariton614$50,00023.3%$206,600
Grimes582$33,95832.8%$105,100
Napier Field422$41,87519.2%$82,100
Clayhatchee414$48,6468.9%$99,200

Population Overview

Dale County is located in Alabama with a total population of 49,599. It is the 28th most populous county out of 67 in Alabama. The county encompasses 11 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Dale County is 37.7 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Dale County is $54,963. This is 14% lower than the state median of $63,999. It is also 32% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 18.7%. This is 20% higher than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. The unemployment rate is 6.6%. This is 40% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $143,500. Housing costs are 32% lower than the state median of $209,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Dale County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 61.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% lower than the state average of 70.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Dale County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 66.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 20.3%.

Education

20.4% 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 86.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Dale 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 Dale County, Alabama?

Dale County has a population of 49,599, making it the 28th most populous county in Alabama.

What is the median income in Dale County?

The median household income in Dale County is $54,963 with a poverty rate of 18.7%.

How many cities are in Dale County, Alabama?

Dale County contains 11 Census-designated places.