Goodwater, Alabama Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Goodwater is a small community located in Alabama, within Coosa County. The total population is 1,445. It ranks as the 272nd most populous out of 592 Census-designated places in Alabama.

Age Demographics

The median age in Goodwater is 45.8 years. This is 17% higher than the state median of 39.3 years. 10.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Goodwater is $39,511. This is 38% lower than the state median of $63,999. It is also 51% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 36.4%. This is 133% 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 6.8%. This is 46% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $58,900. Housing costs are 72% lower than the state median of $209,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Goodwater is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 56.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% lower than the state average of 70.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Goodwater has a predominantly Black or African American population, comprising 85.1% of all residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 10.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (10.7%) is well below the state average of 63.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (85.1% vs 25.6%).

Education

4.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 83% 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 78.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Goodwater, 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.