Jefferson County, Alabama Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Jefferson County is located in Alabama with a total population of 669,744. It is the 1st most populous county out of 67 in Alabama.

Age Demographics

The median age in Jefferson County is 37.8 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Jefferson County is $64,589. This is 4% higher than the state median of $62,027. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 18% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.3%. This is 4% higher than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. The median home value is $224,900. Housing costs are 15% higher than the state median of $195,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 63.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 69.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Jefferson County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 47.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 42.3%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (42.3% vs 25.9%).

Education

35.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Jefferson County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 29% higher 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 91.0%.