1st Advantage MortgageIn Bibb County, Alabama, the typical household earns $52,541 a year and the typical rent is $733. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Alabama before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in Bibb County
- How Bibb County residents earn a living
- Household income in Bibb County
- What it costs to live in Bibb County
- The communities that make up Bibb County
- Regional comparison for Bibb County
- Budget math at the Bibb County median
- Local borrowing considerations for Bibb County
- People and households in Bibb County
- Checklist for Bibb County applicants
- Lender oversight for Bibb County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Bibb County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Bibb County's population at 22,130; only 44 of Alabama's 67 county-level areas are larger. It covers 622 square miles of land, or about 36 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Birmingham, AL metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Brent is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 4,010 people (18% of the county total).
How Bibb County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Bibb County residents work in education and health care and 16% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 5% locally and 1% for Alabama. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 12.1% in Bibb County. Long commutes are common here: 30% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Bibb County | Compared with Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.7% | -1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.9% | +1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.4% | +2.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.8% | -1.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +0.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.3% | -0.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Bibb County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Household income in Bibb County
Half of Bibb County households take in less than $52,541 a year and half take in more, 18% below the Alabama median of $63,999. In the state ranking that is 38th of 67.
| Income band | Share in Bibb County | Difference from Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.9% | +6.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.7% | +1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.3% | -3.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.1% | -4.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 22% of Bibb County households make $100,000 or more, and 35% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 22.5%, 7 points higher than the state's 15.6%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.437 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Bibb County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Bibb County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $733 in Bibb County versus $1,007 statewide. 60% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 34% spend half or more. Home values center on $145,700, or 2.8 years of median income. 79% of Bibb County households own their home and 21% rent. The median year built is 1990.
| Bibb County | Alabama | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $733/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $145,700 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 60% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 24% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 15% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Bibb County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
The communities that make up Bibb County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Bibb County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 11,151 people, so roughly 50% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $22,660 in Brent to $94,545 in Vance. Rent is cheapest in Brent ($537) and steepest in Vance ($1,550). None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brent | city | 4,010 | $22,660 | $537 | 6 mi |
| Centreville | city | 2,741 | $39,477 | $731 | 4 mi |
| Vance | city | 2,105 | $94,545 | $1,550 | 12 mi |
| Woodstock | town | 1,218 | $73,438 | $1,027 | 14 mi |
| West Blocton | town | 1,077 | $40,560 | n/a | 7 mi |
Regional comparison for Bibb County
Chilton County is closest, 26 miles from center to center; the sixth, Jefferson County, is 39 miles off. Income ranges from $37,654 in Perry County to $97,961 in Shelby County; 4 of these neighbors top Bibb County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bibb County | - | $52,541 | $733/mo | 79% |
| Chilton County, AL | 26 mi | $65,603 | $871/mo | 77% |
| Perry County, AL | 28 mi | $37,654 | $592/mo | 78% |
| Tuscaloosa County, AL | 30 mi | $66,231 | $1,037/mo | 61% |
| Shelby County, AL | 32 mi | $97,961 | $1,401/mo | 81% |
| Hale County, AL | 34 mi | $39,250 | $715/mo | 74% |
| Jefferson County, AL | 39 mi | $66,388 | $1,193/mo | 64% |
Budget math at the Bibb County median
Bibb County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $4,378 a month: gross income for a household at the Bibb County median
- 17% goes to median rent ($733)
- At 36%, room after rent is $843 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Local borrowing considerations for Bibb County
What the Bibb County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Commuter costs. 30% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Mobile home upkeep. 28% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Assistance before credit. With a 22% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Bibb County loan.
- Rent squeeze. 60% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
People and households in Bibb County
Degree holders: 12% of adults over 25. About 7% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Bibb County | All of Alabama | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 11.7% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.7% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.9% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.5% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 12.1% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 20.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 21.1% |
| 60+ min | 9.4% |
Checklist for Bibb County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Bibb County:
- Price the Bibb County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Bibb County-area credit union.
- Verify the Alabama license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Lender oversight for Bibb County
The Alabama State Banking Department is the place to verify any lender's Alabama license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Alabama guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Alabama guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bibb County a high-income county?
Its $52,541 median ranks 38th of 67 Alabama counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Bibb County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $733 against $1,007 statewide, and 60% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Bibb County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 79% of Bibb County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Bibb County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Brent, Centreville, Vance, Woodstock, West Blocton.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Bibb County or elsewhere in Alabama, the same rules apply.