DeKalb County, Alabama Demographics 2026

Population Overview

DeKalb County is located in Alabama with a total population of 71,946. It is the 20th most populous county out of 67 in Alabama.

Age Demographics

The median age in DeKalb County is 39.6 years. This is about average than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in DeKalb County is $51,149. This is 18% lower than the state median of $62,027. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 35% lower. The poverty rate stands at 20.4%. This is 30% 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 4.3%. This is 12% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $135,500. Housing costs are 31% lower than the state median of $195,100. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, DeKalb County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 69.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in DeKalb County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 16.7%. The Black or African American population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 25.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (16.7% vs 5.4%). The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

13.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 50% lower than the state rate of 27.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 79.0%.