RANK #302 / 1001 NAT · #10 / 27 AL · POP 103,105
1YR FORECAST: +1.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +20%
Etowah County, Alabama, is perhaps best known for Noccalula Falls Park in Gadsden, where a 90-foot waterfall cascades into a ravine. The county, located in northeast Alabama, offers diverse outdoor recreation with mountains, valleys, forests, rivers, and lakes. Gadsden, the county seat, sits about 55 miles northeast of Birmingham, offering a community feel with access to larger city amenities. The Coosa River, a prominent feature, provides opportunities for fishing, boating, and other water activities. Life in Etowah County blends natural beauty with community focus. The area attracts families and retirees, with a high homeownership rate. Public schools in Etowah County are rated above average. Economically, the county is diversifying beyond its industrial past. Recent developments include significant investments in a 1,200-acre "mega-site" along I-59, aimed at attracting large employers, particularly in the automotive supply chain. Gadsden State Community College also supports the workforce with advanced manufacturing programs.
Etowah County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +6.1% YoY, population -0.1%, wages +2.9%). 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 10.9x — 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: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Etowah County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Northeast Alabama Regional (NEAR) Megasite Infrastructure
Etowah County Commission, Alabama Power, Norfolk Southern Railroad
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Eastern Corridor (I-759 to Highway 278 East)
State of Alabama
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 70/100, Etowah County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $54,563 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in AL.
Housing in Etowah County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $167,100 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.33, with rents averaging $847/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Etowah County are both close to flat — population -0.1% YoY and jobs +0.3%. Home values shifted +6.1% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.97% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Etowah County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +6.1% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Etowah County is now valued at $167,100. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.