RANK #343 / 1001 NAT · #16 / 27 AL · POP 59,947
1YR FORECAST: +1.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +31%
Autauga County, Alabama, is often recognized for Prattville, its largest city and county seat, nicknamed "The Fountain City" due to its numerous artesian wells. Located north of Montgomery, Autauga County offers a blend of suburban and rural living. Commuting to Montgomery is common for many residents, with an average commute time of about 28 minutes. The community maintains a family-friendly atmosphere with a leisurely lifestyle and abundant outdoor recreation. The Autauga Creek Canoe Trail, a National Recreation Trail, provides opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, and tubing, while the Wilderness Park features a unique bamboo forest.
Life in Autauga County appeals to families and young professionals, with a high homeownership rate. The Autauga County School System serves approximately 9,000 students across 14 campuses and is recognized for its above-average public schools. The local economy is driven by manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and education sectors. Recent economic developments include the planned Owens Corning asphalt roofing shingle plant in Prattville, expected to create 89 jobs, and the establishment of new businesses in the area. Additionally, the Autauga County Heritage Association is developing "The Pratt," a new museum and event center in downtown Prattville.
Autauga County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +3.3% YoY, population +1.1%, wages +4.4%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks overvalued at 18.1x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 66/100, Autauga County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +4.7%, and median household income stands at $72,481 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in AL.
Housing in Autauga County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $207,200 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.35, with rents averaging $1,263/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Autauga County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.1% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +4.7% clip — and home values reflect that momentum, rising +3.3% over the past 12 months.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.32% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Autauga County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.