Hale County, Alabama Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Hale County is located in Alabama with a total population of 14,749. It is the 55th most populous county out of 67 in Alabama.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hale County is 41.0 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Hale County is $41,325. This is 33% lower than the state median of $62,027. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 47% lower. The poverty rate stands at 23.9%. This is 53% 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 5.9%. This is 22% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $126,300. Housing costs are 35% lower than the state median of $195,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 77.0% 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 Hale County is Black or African American, making up 55.8% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 38.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (55.8% vs 25.9%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 5.4%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

16.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 40% 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 81.9%.