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Montgomery County, AL

RANK #275 / 1001 NAT  ·  #14 / 27 AL  ·  POP 226,718

1YR FORECAST: -0.1%

5YR OUTLOOK: +32%

#19 Most Undervalued #48 Best Rental Yield
Our model projects above-average housing market growth for Montgomery County at -0.1% over the next year.

[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.

MARKET PROFILE

Affordable Slow Markets

Montgomery County is one of 75 U.S. counties in this market profile — near the profile average on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.8% runs above the profile's typical +0.8%.

See all 75 Affordable Slow Markets counties →

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
4.6x

Below national median (11.3x)

Home Prices
+1.8%

Above national median

Climate & Terrain
-0.3

Below-average climate & terrain

Price/Rent
11x

Strong rental yield

Housing is fairly valued at 4.6x 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

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).

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
226,718
-0.21% YoY
Median Household Income
$59,386
Median Home Value
$171,900
+1.81% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,092
Average Annual Pay
$63,757
+3.5% YoY
Employment
132,310
-0.4% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3455
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
3.31%
of pop. from another state
Bachelor's Degree+
34.5%
of residents (national avg: 33%)

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$248,900
Days on Market
68
Slower market
Months of Supply
4.6
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
96.2%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
14.5%
Listings w/ Price Drops
23.3%
Building Permits (2025)
729
Single-Family Permits
465

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

Population Growth -0.2% 13 percentile
Income Growth +2.1% 34 percentile
Vacancy Rate 2.0% 6 percentile
Home Price Change +1.8% 53 percentile
Rent Growth +4.2% 70 percentile
Price/Rent 11x 95 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.

[09] Frequently Asked Questions

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

With a Boom Town Index score of 72/100, Montgomery County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $59,386 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in AL.

Is Montgomery County affordable?

Housing in Montgomery County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $171,900 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.35, with rents averaging $1,092/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.

Is Montgomery County growing or shrinking?

Population and employment in Montgomery County are both close to flat — population -0.2% YoY and jobs -0.4%. Home values shifted +1.8% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.

Are people moving to Montgomery County?

There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.31% 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 72 Marshall County, AL 78 Autauga County, AL 66 Calhoun County, AL 79 Russell County, AL 79 Morgan County, AL 63 Ulster County, NY 72 Brown County, WI 72