Jasper
RANK #60 / 996 NAT · #2 / 27 AL · POP 64,978
1YR FORECAST: +1.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +38%
Jasper, the county seat, stands out in Walker County, Alabama, a region known for its outdoor recreation opportunities. Located about 20 minutes from Birmingham, the county offers a blend of rural charm and accessibility to a major metropolitan area. Residents and visitors can enjoy fishing at Lewis Smith Lake and Walker County Lake, along with various parks and green spaces offering walking trails, kayaking, biking, and camping. The community maintains a friendly atmosphere, with many residents owning their homes.
Life in Walker County often appeals to families and retirees, with a significant portion of residents owning their homes. The local economy, historically reliant on coal, has been diversifying. Recent efforts have focused on attracting industrial investment, particularly in sectors like automotive supply, wood products, metal fabrication, defense, technology, and transportation. Educational institutions, including Walker County Schools and Bevill State Community College, contribute to workforce development. The county also provides a public transportation system with demand-response services.
Below national median (4.7x)
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing is fairly valued at 4.1x 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Project Helios (Solar Farms)
Ingka Investments
|
$500M | Planned |
|
Gorgas Battery Facility (Utility-Scale Battery Storage System)
Alabama Power
|
$150M | Under Construction |
|
Heman Drummond Center for Innovation
Walker Area Community Foundation (transferring to Walker County School System)
|
$80M | Under Construction |
|
Heritage Industrial Park
Walker County Economic & Industrial Development Authority
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Heiche Surface Technologies Facility
Heiche Surface Technologies
|
$25M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Walker County ranks #60 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 94/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +1.3% and a median household income of $52,987 point to a county with active economic momentum.
By national standards, Walker County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $124,100, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.43 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $698/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Employers in Walker County are hiring — job growth of +1.3% — but the population is close to flat (-0.3% YoY). Home values moved -2.9% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.53% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Walker County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.