RANK #49 / 1001 NAT · #5 / 27 AL · POP 72,269
1YR FORECAST: +1.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +39%
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.
DeKalb County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +1.3% YoY, population +0.5%, wages +3.9%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.8x — 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 →
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 1001 counties.
DeKalb County ranks #49 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 95/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +2.1% and a median household income of $51,204 point to a county with active economic momentum.
Housing in DeKalb County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $152,700 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.34, with rents averaging $693/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Employers in DeKalb County are hiring — job growth of +2.1% — but the population is close to flat (+0.5% YoY). Home values moved +1.3% 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 3.01% 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.