RANK #960 / 996 NAT · #27 / 27 AL · POP 81,105
1YR FORECAST: -0.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +7%
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.
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 2.9x — 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 →
| 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.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Talladega County scores just 3/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #960 of 996 counties. Job growth at +0.2% and median household income of $52,457 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
By national standards, Talladega County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $131,900, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.40 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $750/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Talladega County is losing population (-0.9% YoY) while the job market is essentially flat (+0.2% employment change). Home values are -1.4% over the past 12 months. A slow-bleed pattern — not a collapse, but residents are leaving faster than employers are hiring.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.7% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Talladega County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.