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Houston County, Alabama Demographics 2026

Houston County, Alabama has a population of 108,140, the 12th most populous county in Alabama. The median household income is $58,626 and the median home value is $183,300. The poverty rate is 17.5%.

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

Houston County Quick Facts

Population 108,140
Median Household Income $58,626
Median Home Value $183,300
Poverty Rate 17.5%
Unemployment Rate 4.5%
Median Age 40.3 years
Homeownership Rate 63.8%
Affordability Ratio 3.1x
Bachelor's Degree+ 23.1%
High School Graduation 87.9%
Cities/Places 12
Population 108,140 12th of 67
Median Income $58,626 8% lower than state
Poverty Rate 17.5%
Unemployment 4.5%

How Houston County 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
Population107,628108,140+0.5%
Median household income$57,531$58,626+1.9%
Median home value$178,000$183,300+3.0%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 21.2%
$25K-$50K 22.9%
$50K-$100K 29.2%
$100K+ 26.8%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
6.2%
$10K-$15K
5.1%
$15K-$20K
5.3%
$20K-$25K
4.7%
$25K-$30K
4.6%
$30K-$35K
4.4%
$35K-$40K
4.4%
$40K-$45K
5.0%
$45K-$50K
4.5%
$50K-$60K
6.9%
$60K-$75K
9.4%
$75K-$100K
12.9%
$100K-$125K
8.4%
$125K-$150K
5.7%
$150K-$200K
6.5%
$200K+
6.2%

Employment

4.5% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%
57.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 63.8%
Renter 36.2%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.1x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $945/mo 19.3% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

52out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 53 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Houston County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Dothan71,514$55,79219.3%$194,000
Taylor3,063$67,46416.0%$134,200
Ashford2,447$65,34115.0%$180,100
Cowarts2,204$64,11818.5%$177,700
Kinsey2,195$55,5008.5%$132,000
Rehobeth1,887$80,97211.3%$242,900
Webb1,475$54,7927.9%$113,800
Cottonwood971$34,46827.6%$111,500
Columbia785$62,00011.8%$156,800
Avon378$39,37522.2%$122,500
Gordon323N/A31.6%$86,700
Madrid220$39,75014.2%$122,500

Population Overview

Houston County is located in Alabama with a total population of 108,140. It is the 12th most populous county out of 67 in Alabama. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Houston County is 40.3 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Houston County is $58,626. This is 8% lower than the state median of $63,999. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.5%. This is 12% higher than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 4% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $183,300. Housing costs are 13% lower than the state median of $209,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 63.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 70.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Houston County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 63.4% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 27.1%.

Education

23.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 19% 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 87.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Houston County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Alabama and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Houston County, Alabama?

Houston County has a population of 108,140, making it the 12th most populous county in Alabama.

What is the median income in Houston County?

The median household income in Houston County is $58,626 with a poverty rate of 17.5%.

How many cities are in Houston County, Alabama?

Houston County contains 12 Census-designated places.