RANK #694 / 1001 NAT · #25 / 27 AL · POP 95,830
1YR FORECAST: +0.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +16%
Lauderdale County, in the northwestern corner of Alabama, is defined by the Tennessee River, which forms its southern and western boundaries. Florence, the county seat and largest city, sits on the river's north bank. The county is part of "The Shoals" region, which also includes nearby Muscle Shoals. Commuting within the area is generally done by car, with an average commute time of around 26 minutes. For those without personal vehicles, a "Dial-a-Ride" program offers demand-response public transit in Florence and surrounding areas. The landscape offers abundant outdoor recreation, including Joe Wheeler State Park, the North Alabama Birding Trail, and opportunities for boating and fishing on Wilson and Pickwick Lakes.
Life in Lauderdale County offers a blend of small-town atmosphere and access to amenities. The public school system is highly rated, and the University of North Alabama is located in Florence. The economy is diverse, with manufacturing, retail trade, and healthcare being significant employment sectors. Recent economic developments include a focus on attracting remote workers through programs like Remote Shoals, and ongoing investment in infrastructure and industrial parks. The county has also seen recent legislative action to establish a local economic development authority.
Lauderdale County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +2.8% YoY, population +0.8%, wages +3.6%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 12.8x — 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: 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 Lauderdale County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
River Bend Solar Energy Center
River Bend Solar, LLC
|
$100M | Operating |
|
Lauderdale County Agricultural Event Center (Phase I & Future Phases)
Lauderdale County Agricultural Authority
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Shoals Economic Development Authority Speculative Buildings
Shoals Economic Development Authority (SEDA)
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Lauderdale County Workforce Development Center
State of Alabama, Lauderdale County Commission, K-12 Systems, TVA
|
$26M | Under Construction |
|
Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant License Extension & Upgrades
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
|
— | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 30/100, Lauderdale County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $62,649 combined with job growth of +0.5% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Lauderdale County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $200,300 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.31, with rents averaging $838/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Lauderdale County's population is growing — up +0.8% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.5%). Home values shifted +2.8% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.17% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Lauderdale County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.