RANK #63 / 996 · POP 87,694 · AL
PROJECTED GROWTH: +3.2%
Wetumpka, the county seat of Elmore County, gained national attention after being featured on HGTV's "Home Town Takeover," revitalizing its downtown area. Located in east-central Alabama, Elmore County is part of the Montgomery metropolitan area, with the city of Montgomery to its south. Commutes to Montgomery are common, and the county offers a blend of small-town comfort with access to larger city amenities. The landscape features rolling hills and is notable for its diverse geography, including the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers, Lake Jordan, and Lake Martin, providing opportunities for fishing, boating, kayaking, and hiking at places like Wind Creek State Park and the Swayback Bridge Trail.
Life in Elmore County is often described as family-friendly, with many residents owning their homes. The public school system is highly rated and serves towns like Millbrook, Wetumpka, and Eclectic. The economy, once primarily agricultural, has diversified, with manufacturing being a significant employer. Recent economic developments have focused on quality-of-life projects, including investments in recreational facilities like the 17 Springs sports complex in Millbrook, which aims to attract sports tourism and related commercial development.
Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.2x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Southern Natural Gas Company (SNG) Pipeline Expansion (SSE4)
Southern Natural Gas Company (Kinder Morgan & Southern Company)
|
$3,000M | Planned |
|
Enhance Elmore Infrastructure Program (Jail, Judicial Complex, Roads, Bridges, Utilities, Broadband)
Elmore County Commission
|
$103M | Under Construction |
|
Phoenix Building Redevelopment (Former Russell Building)
Phoenix Investors
|
$50M | Operating |
|
17 Springs Athletic Complex (Phase Two)
City of Millbrook, Elmore County Commission, Elmore County Board of Education, Grandview YMCA, Elmore County Economic Development Authority
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Elmore County has a Boom Town Index score of 94/100, ranking #63 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +5.2% and a median household income of $73,258, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Elmore County is $200,400 with median rent at $982/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3656, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.6% year-over-year. Job growth: +5.2%. Home values changed +4.3% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 5.24% of Elmore County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.