RANK #382 / 1001 NAT · #13 / 27 AL · POP 58,022
1YR FORECAST: +0.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +19%
Colbert County, Alabama, is widely recognized for its musical heritage, particularly in Muscle Shoals, home to iconic recording studios like FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, where legendary artists recorded. Located in the northwest corner of Alabama along the Tennessee River, the county seat is Tuscumbia, also known as the birthplace of Helen Keller. The area offers a small-town atmosphere with access to natural beauty, including riverfront parks, golf courses, and wildlife preserves. The county also provides public transportation through a demand-response Dial-a-Ride program. Life in Colbert County is often characterized by a close-knit, small-town environment, attracting many retirees. The public schools in Colbert County are above average, with some elementary schools ranking highly within the state. The economy is supported by a strong industrial base, including manufacturing, and recent defense manufacturing investments are projected to create new jobs. The presence of the University of North Alabama in the broader Shoals area also contributes to the local economy through employment and student spending.
Colbert County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +2.3% YoY, population +0.7%, wages +2.9%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing is fairly valued at 6.7x 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: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Colbert County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Colbert Combustion Turbine Plant Expansion
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
|
$750M | Operating |
|
Muscle Shoals Solar Project
Ørsted (acquired from Longroad Energy)
|
$227M | Operating |
|
Spring Valley Solar 2
Spring Valley LLC (for TVA)
|
$200M | Planned |
|
Muscle Shoals Sports, Retail and Entertainment Complex
City of Muscle Shoals (public/private partnership)
|
$65M | Planned |
|
Bank Independent Operations Center
Bank Independent
|
$60M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 62/100, Colbert County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +1.1%, and median household income stands at $60,628 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in AL.
By national standards, Colbert County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $171,000, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.35 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $887/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Colbert County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.7% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.1% clip. Home values shifted +2.3% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.69% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Colbert County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.