RANK #30 / 1001 NAT · #1 / 27 AL · POP 99,748
1YR FORECAST: +1.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +27%
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.
Marshall County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +3.3% YoY, population +1.1%, wages +4.2%). 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 9.8x — 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 Marshall County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Marshall County ranks #30 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 97/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +0.6% and a median household income of $62,571 point to a county with active economic momentum.
Housing in Marshall County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $201,500 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.31, with rents averaging $795/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Marshall County's population is growing — up +1.1% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.6%). Home values shifted +3.3% 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 3.14% 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.