RANK #234 / 996 NAT · #8 / 27 AL · POP 87,694
1YR FORECAST: +3.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +31%
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
|
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.
With a Boom Town Index score of 76/100, Elmore County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +5.2%, and median household income stands at $73,258 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in AL.
By national standards, Elmore County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $200,400, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $982/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Elmore County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.6% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +5.2% clip — and home values reflect that momentum, rising +4.3% over the past 12 months.
In significant numbers — 5.24% of Elmore County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.