Fort Payne
RANK #284 / 996 NAT · #11 / 27 AL · POP 71,680
1YR FORECAST: +1.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +29%
DeKalb County, Alabama, is known for its natural beauty, particularly Little River Canyon National Preserve, often called the "Grand Canyon of the East." This northeast Alabama county, with Fort Payne as its largest city and county seat, is about an hour's drive from Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Huntsville, Alabama. The community offers a blend of small-town living and access to outdoor activities across its mountainous terrain, including DeSoto State Park and Buck's Pocket State Park. The area's scenic drives, waterfalls, and extensive hiking and biking trails contribute to its appeal. Life in DeKalb County is characterized by a low cost of living and a strong sense of community. Many residents own their homes, and the public schools in the county are highly rated. The economy is supported by manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism, with recent investments in industrial parks and infrastructure. These developments aim to attract new businesses and strengthen the local workforce, creating opportunities for residents and contributing to the county's economic picture.
Prices declining
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 3.9x — home prices are low 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.
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 →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
DeKalb County Water and Sewer Infrastructure Investment
DeKalb County
|
$4,270M | Planned |
|
Meta DeKalb Data Center Expansion
Meta
|
$1,000M | Operating |
|
Siemens Energy Fort Payne Expansion
Siemens Energy
|
$1,000M | Planned |
|
Edged DeKalb Data Center (Project Vector)
Edged
|
$500M | Approved |
|
Fratco Production Facility
Fratco
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Broadband Expansion Projects (DeKalb County portion)
Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 71/100, DeKalb County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +2.6%, and median household income stands at $47,920 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in AL.
By national standards, DeKalb County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $129,000, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $684/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Employers in DeKalb County are hiring — job growth of +2.6% — but the population is close to flat (+0.2% YoY). Home values moved -0.5% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.43% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests DeKalb County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.