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Montgomery County, AL

RANK #583 / 996 NAT  ·  #17 / 27 AL  ·  POP 228,132

1YR FORECAST: +0.2%

5YR OUTLOOK: +22%

#33 Most Undervalued
Montgomery County's housing market is projected to grow +0.2% over the next year, below the national average.

[01] Why Montgomery County?

Montgomery County, Alabama, is perhaps best known as the home of the state capital, Montgomery, a city deeply intertwined with pivotal moments in American history, particularly the Civil Rights Movement. Landmarks like the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church and the Rosa Parks Library and Museum draw visitors interested in this heritage. Situated along the Alabama River on the Gulf Coastal Plain, the county offers a blend of urban and natural settings. Atlanta, Georgia, is the closest major city over 500,000 people. The community offers numerous parks and opportunities for outdoor recreation, including walking trails and cultural parks. Life in Montgomery County offers a balance of affordability and community focus. The cost of living is lower than the national average, particularly for housing. The county's economy is experiencing growth, driven by investments in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, automotive supply chains, data infrastructure, and logistics. This economic activity contributes to a job market with opportunities in government, healthcare, and manufacturing. Montgomery Public Schools serves the county, with magnet programs available. The area is characterized by a mix of families and young professionals, with a community spirit often described as welcoming.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
2.2x

Undervalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+2.7%

Below national median

Home Prices
+0.5%

Well below national median

Climate & Terrain
-0.3

Below-average climate & terrain

Price/Rent
9x

Strong rental yield

Housing looks undervalued at 2.2x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Top Employers

  1. 1
    Maxwell Gunter Air Force Base Military
    10,000+
  2. 2
    State of Alabama Government
  3. 3
    Montgomery Public Schools Education
    2,500+
  4. 4
    Baptist Health Healthcare
  5. 5
    Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) Manufacturing
  6. 6
    ALFA Companies Finance
  7. 7
    City of Montgomery Government
  8. 8
    Business & Enterprise Systems Technology
    1,000+
  9. 9
    Jackson Hospital & Clinic, Inc. Healthcare
  10. 10
    Koch Foods Manufacturing

Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Montgomery County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
228,132
-0.41% YoY
Median Household Income
$56,707
Median Home Value
$151,300
+0.52% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,028
Average Annual Pay
$61,610
+4.2% YoY
Employment
132,903
+1.4% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3748
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
2.81%
of pop. from another state
Bachelor's Degree+
33.7%
of residents (national avg: 33%)

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$205,000
Days on Market
104
Slower market
Months of Supply
6.3
Buyer's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
95.7%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
10.2%
Listings w/ Price Drops
20.5%
Building Permits (2024)
460
Single-Family Permits
421

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

[05] Crime & Safety

F
SAFETY
GRADE
Homicide Rate
26.2
per 100K · nat avg 6.3
Firearm Fatalities
34.7
per 100K · nat avg 14.8
Injury Deaths
86.8
per 100K · nat avg 76.3
vs National Average
Well above national avg
based on homicide rate

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 →

[06] Air Quality

B-
AIR QUALITY
GRADE
Median AQI (3yr)
45.7
Good
Good Air Days
60%
629 of 1,048 days
Unhealthy+ Days (3yr)
0
Sensitive groups affected
Primary Pollutant
PM2.5
Fine particulate matter
Yearly Trend
2021
44
2022
41
2023
52
Median AQI · lower is better

Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →

[07] Capital Investment

$1,847M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Meta Data Center Campus Expansion
Meta
$1,500M Under Construction
Black Bear Solar Energy Project
Lightsource BP / Alabama Municipal Electric Authority (AMEA)
$125M Operating
Montgomery Inland Port
Port of Alabama
$94M Under Construction
DAS North America Expansion
DAS North America
$78M Under Construction
Montgomery Whitewater Park (Future Plans)
Montgomery Whitewater
$50M Proposed

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[08] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +2.7% 50 percentile
Population Growth -0.4% 13 percentile
Income Growth +8.0% 36 percentile
Vacancy Rate 2.1% 7 percentile
Home Price Change +0.5% 38 percentile
Rent Growth +3.6% 61 percentile
Price/Rent 9x 94 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[09] Frequently Asked Questions

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

Montgomery County scores 41/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#583). Median household income is $56,707 and job growth is running at +1.4%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.

Is Montgomery County affordable?

By national standards, Montgomery County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $151,300, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,028/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.

Is Montgomery County growing or shrinking?

Employers in Montgomery County are hiring — job growth of +1.4% — but the population is close to flat (-0.4% YoY). Home values moved +0.5% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.

Are people moving to Montgomery County?

There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.81% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Montgomery County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.

[10] Similar Counties by Size & Score

Mobile County, AL 38 Coffee County, AL 34 Madison County, AL 50 Morgan County, AL 51 Blount County, AL 31 Shelby County, AL 29 Anderson County, SC 41 Webb County, TX 41