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Decatur, Alabama Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Decatur, Alabama had a total population of 57,361, the 10th largest city in Alabama, with a median household income of $61,563, which is 4% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 13.1%.

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

Decatur Quick Facts

Population 57,361
Median Household Income $61,563
Median Home Value $210,200
Poverty Rate 13.1%
Unemployment Rate 4.5%
Median Age 39.7 years
Homeownership Rate 63.3%
Affordability Ratio 3.4x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 22.4%
High School Graduation Rate 84.8%
Diversity Index 61/100
Population 57,361 10th of 592
Median Income $61,563 above average
Poverty Rate 13.1% 5% higher than national
Median Home Value $210,200 top 30%

How Decatur 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
Population57,76057,361-0.7%
Median household income$59,831$61,563+2.9%
Median home value$190,500$210,200+10.3%

How Decatur Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 17.5%
$25K-$50K 24.5%
$50K-$100K 29.3%
$100K+ 28.7%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.4%
$10K-$15K
3.3%
$15K-$20K
4.4%
$20K-$25K
4.4%
$25K-$30K
7.0%
$30K-$35K
5.9%
$35K-$40K
3.8%
$40K-$45K
3.4%
$45K-$50K
4.5%
$50K-$60K
7.0%
$60K-$75K
9.2%
$75K-$100K
13.0%
$100K-$125K
9.9%
$125K-$150K
5.3%
$150K-$200K
7.1%
$200K+
6.4%

Employment

4.5% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%
59.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 63.3%
Renter 36.7%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.4x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $896/mo 17.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

61out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 53 | National average: 61

Education

Decatur Rankings in Alabama

#10 Population of 592
#211 Median Income of 537
#174 Education of 592
#133 Home Value of 529

Other Cities in Morgan County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Hartselle 15,847 $76,290 13.3% $203,800
Priceville 3,726 $117,127 2.2% $266,400
Trinity 2,561 $100,929 3.1% $283,000
Falkville 1,606 $46,888 14.9% $139,600
Somerville 921 $49,261 18.6% $144,800
Eva 845 $115,455 8.5% $246,500

Cities Similar to Decatur

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Dothan71,514$55,792$194,00027.6%19.3%
Auburn80,594$63,668$364,80064.1%25.4%
Florence41,701$52,174$196,30034.5%17.9%
Madison60,106$134,655$398,80064.5%4.3%
Phenix City38,499$50,053$170,30023.2%24.5%

Population Overview

Decatur is a mid-sized community located in Alabama, within Morgan County. The total population is 57,361. It ranks as the 10th most populous out of 592 Census-designated places in Alabama.

Age Demographics

The median age in Decatur is 39.7 years. This is 1% higher than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Decatur is $61,563. This is 4% lower than the state median of $63,999. It is also 24% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.1%. This is 16% lower than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 5% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $210,200. Housing costs are about the same as the state median of $209,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 63.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% lower than the state average of 70.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Decatur is White (non-Hispanic), making up 55.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 23.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (16.5% vs 5.6%).

Education

22.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 21% 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 84.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Decatur, 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 Decatur, Alabama?

Decatur, Alabama has a population of 57,361 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Decatur, AL?

The median household income in Decatur is $61,563, which is 24% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Decatur, AL?

The poverty rate in Decatur is 13.1%. This means approximately 7,352 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Decatur, Alabama?

Decatur's population is 55.6% White, 23.0% Black, 16.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.9% Asian.

What is the median home value in Decatur, AL?

The median home value in Decatur is $210,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x.

How educated is Decatur, Alabama?

22.4% of adults (25+) in Decatur hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 7.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.