Macon County, Alabama Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Macon County is located in Alabama with a total population of 18,691. It is the 49th most populous county out of 67 in Alabama. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Macon County is 37.4 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Macon County is $43,707. This is 32% lower than the state median of $63,999. It is also 46% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 24.3%. This is 56% 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 8.3%. This is 76% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $102,000. Housing costs are 51% lower than the state median of $209,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Macon County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 61.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% lower than the state average of 70.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Macon County is Black or African American, making up 77.5% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 16.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (16.8%) is well below the state average of 63.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (77.5% vs 25.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 5.6%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

21.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 26% 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 84.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Macon 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.