Etowah County, Alabama Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Etowah County is located in Alabama with a total population of 103,208. It is the 13th most populous county out of 67 in Alabama.

Age Demographics

The median age in Etowah County is 41.8 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Etowah County is $53,070. This is 14% lower than the state median of $62,027. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 32% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.1%. This is 9% higher than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. The unemployment rate is 6.3%. This is 31% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $160,600. Housing costs are 18% lower than the state median of $195,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 73.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 69.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Etowah County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 76.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 15.0%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

17.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% 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 85.8%.