RANK #36 / 1001 NAT · #3 / 27 AL · POP 89,526
1YR FORECAST: +2.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +39%
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.
Elmore County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +4.9% YoY, population +1.0%, wages +2.2%). 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
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 18.4x — 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
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 1001 counties.
Elmore County ranks #36 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 96/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +2.8% and a median household income of $78,243 point to a county with active economic momentum.
Housing in Elmore County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $223,900 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.35, with rents averaging $1,071/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Elmore County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.0% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.8% clip — and home values reflect that momentum, rising +4.9% over the past 12 months.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.45% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Elmore County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.