9 / 100

Talladega County, AL

RANK #902 / 996  ·  POP 81,105  ·  AL

PROJECTED GROWTH: -1.7%

Talladega County is losing people and economic momentum. This metro faces significant structural headwinds.

[01] Why Talladega County?

Talladega County, Alabama, is perhaps most recognized for the Talladega Superspeedway, a landmark that draws visitors for NASCAR events. Located in east-central Alabama, the county seat of Talladega is approximately an hour's drive from Birmingham. The community offers a blend of small-town environments, with towns like Sylacauga, known as the "Marble City," and Lincoln, situated on Logan Martin Lake. The county's natural scenery includes portions of the Talladega National Forest, offering opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and camping, with trails like the Pinhoti National Recreation Trail and the Sylaward Bike Trail.

Life in Talladega County generally features a lower cost of living compared to national and state averages. The area is characterized by a mix of small towns, and while some residents commute to nearby cities, the average commute time within the county is around 28 minutes. The Talladega County Schools district serves over 7,000 students across 18 schools and is considered above average. The economy is supported by manufacturing, healthcare, and retail sectors, with recent developments including investments in data centers and energy.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
2.9x

Undervalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+10.7%

Well above national median

Home Prices
-1.4%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
1.3

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
8x

Strong rental yield

Housing looks undervalued at 2.9x — 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

Talladega County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
81,105
-0.91% YoY
Median Household Income
$52,457
Median Home Value
$131,900
-1.4% 12mo
Median Rent
$750
Average Annual Pay
$58,301
+7.8% YoY
Employment
31,690
+0.2% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3977
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
4.7%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$174,226
Days on Market
102
Slower market
Months of Supply
6.5
Buyer's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
94.0%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
6.1%
Listings w/ Price Drops
19.2%
Building Permits (2024)
195
Single-Family Permits
181

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

[05] Capital Investment

$850M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Western Hospitality Childersburg Data Center
Western Hospitality Partners
$500M Planned
Dega Solar and Storage
Cleanview (developer not specified)
$200M Planned
Talladega Solar Project
NextEra Energy Resources
$100M Proposed
Talladega Superspeedway Renovations
NASCAR
$50M Planned

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

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +10.7% 99 percentile
Population Growth -0.9% 4 percentile
Income Growth +15.5% 100 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.0% 55 percentile
Home Price Change -1.4% 19 percentile
Rent Growth -2.4% 1 percentile
Price/Rent 8x 98 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

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

Talladega County has a Boom Town Index score of 9/100, ranking #902 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.2% and a median household income of $52,457, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.

Is Talladega County affordable?

The median home value in Talladega County is $131,900 with median rent at $750/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3977, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Talladega County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: -0.9% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.2%. Home values changed -1.4% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Talladega County?

Yes — 4.7% of Talladega County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Santa Rosa County, FL 19 Forrest County, MS 19 Fayette County, GA 19 Umatilla County, OR 19 Contra Costa County, CA 19 Chatham County, NC 19 Lafayette Parish, LA 19 Putnam County, TN 19