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Marshall County, AL

RANK #593 / 996  ·  POP 97,923  ·  AL

PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.4%

Marshall County shows below-average economic momentum. Growth signals are flat or softening.

[01] Why Marshall County?

Lake Guntersville, a prominent feature of Marshall County, Alabama, draws visitors and residents alike with its 69,000 acres of water and reputation for bass fishing. The county is located in northeastern Alabama, approximately an hour's drive from Huntsville. The community offers a balance of small-town hospitality and access to outdoor recreation, including three state parks: Lake Guntersville State Park, Cathedral Caverns State Park, and Buck's Pocket State Park. Life in Marshall County often centers on its natural surroundings and community events. The county's economy is supported by manufacturing, automotive suppliers, aerospace contractors, and tourism. Major employers include Mueller, Pilgrim's Pride, and local healthcare systems. The area's proximity to Huntsville allows residents to access that city's job market while maintaining a lower cost of living. Public schools in Marshall County are rated above average, with Arab City Schools, Albertville City Schools, and Guntersville City Schools noted as highly rated systems.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
4.0x

Undervalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+3.3%

Above national median

Home Prices
-0.2%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
0.4

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
9x

Strong rental yield

Housing looks undervalued at 4.0x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Marshall County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
97,923
+0.77% YoY
Median Household Income
$58,272
Median Home Value
$165,600
-0.25% 12mo
Median Rent
$746
Average Annual Pay
$48,206
+4.0% YoY
Employment
40,812
+1.6% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3519
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
2.26%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$272,750
Days on Market
77
Slower market
Months of Supply
7.8
Buyer's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
97.4%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
15.5%
Listings w/ Price Drops
17.4%
Building Permits (2024)
163
Single-Family Permits
161

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +3.3% 62 percentile
Population Growth +0.8% 63 percentile
Income Growth +10.1% 81 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.8% 78 percentile
Home Price Change -0.2% 28 percentile
Rent Growth +2.9% 47 percentile
Price/Rent 9x 94 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Marshall County, AL a good place to move to?

Marshall County has a Boom Town Index score of 40/100, ranking #593 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.6% and a median household income of $58,272, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.

Is Marshall County affordable?

The median home value in Marshall County is $165,600 with median rent at $746/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3519, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Marshall County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +0.8% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.6%. Home values changed -0.2% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Marshall County?

Yes — 2.26% of Marshall County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Hillsborough County, NH 50 Delaware County, PA 50 Aiken County, SC 50 Minnehaha County, SD 50 Richmond city, VA 50 Livingston Parish, LA 50 Franklin County, NC 50 Frederick County, VA 50