Albertville-Boaz
RANK #257 / 996 NAT · #10 / 27 AL · POP 97,923
1YR FORECAST: +1.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +30%
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.
Above national median
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 4.0x — home prices are low 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 →
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 74/100, Marshall County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +1.6%, and median household income stands at $58,272 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in AL.
By national standards, Marshall County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $165,600, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.35 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $746/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Marshall County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.8% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.6% clip. Home values shifted -0.2% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.26% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Marshall County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.