1st Advantage MortgageAbout 72% of Chambers County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $49,656. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Chambers County
- What Chambers County households earn
- Employment and commuting in Chambers County
- Chambers County housing compared with Alabama
- Chambers County and the counties next door
- Places inside Chambers County
- People and households in Chambers County
- What the numbers mean for Chambers County borrowers
- Budget math at the Chambers County median
- Alabama rules that apply in Chambers County
- A Chambers County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Chambers County
Chambers County is home to about 34,192 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 34th most populous of 67 county-level areas in Alabama. Land area is 597 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 57 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Chambers County is not part of any metropolitan area. Valley is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 10,277 people (30% of the county total).
What Chambers County households earn
The median household income in Chambers County is $49,656; statewide it is $63,999, so Chambers County runs 22% below Alabama as a whole. Only 45 Alabama counties post a higher median.
| Band | Chambers County | Compared with Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.9% | +7.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.9% | +1.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.3% | -4.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.9% | -4.9 pts |
Some 36% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 21% have six-figure incomes. 15.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 15.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.440 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Chambers County median.
Employment and commuting in Chambers County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Chambers County residents work in manufacturing and 21% in education and health care. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 26% locally and 14% for Alabama. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.1% in Chambers County. Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 7.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Chambers County share | +/- vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 26.4% | +12.3 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.0% | -1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | -0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.3% | +1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.9% | -2.2 pts |
| Construction | 5.9% | -1.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Chambers County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Chambers County housing compared with Alabama
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $871 in Chambers County versus $1,007 statewide. By the Census definition, 47% of Chambers County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $135,800, about 2.7 times the median household income. Owners occupy 72% of homes. Median construction year: 1979.
| Measure | Chambers County | Alabama | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $871/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $135,800 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 14.3% | 12.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 15% | n/a |
Chambers County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Lee County at 22 miles out to Harris County at 31. Income ranges from $52,338 in Randolph County to $97,302 in Harris County; all six of these neighbors top Chambers County's median. Some neighbors are in Georgia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Chambers County resident follows Alabama rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chambers County | - | $49,656 | $871/mo | 72% |
| Lee County, AL | 22 mi | $65,824 | $1,058/mo | 66% |
| Troup County, GA | 23 mi | $56,776 | $1,087/mo | 61% |
| Tallapoosa County, AL | 24 mi | $59,356 | $765/mo | 76% |
| Randolph County, AL | 27 mi | $52,338 | $708/mo | 77% |
| Heard County, GA | 30 mi | $65,868 | $917/mo | 72% |
| Harris County, GA | 31 mi | $97,302 | $1,048/mo | 89% |
Places inside Chambers County
10 Census places fall mainly inside Chambers County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 23,323 residents, leaving about 32% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $32,601 in La Fayette to $51,661 in Valley. Rent is cheapest in La Fayette ($645) and steepest in Valley ($1,016). Live in one of these Chambers County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley | city | 10,277 | $51,661 | $1,016 | 14 mi |
| Lanett | city | 6,814 | $42,357 | $940 | 11 mi |
| La Fayette | city | 2,633 | $32,601 | $645 | 1 mi |
| Huguley | CDP | 2,577 | $43,750 | $838 | 10 mi |
| Fredonia | CDP | 329 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Abanda | CDP | 257 | $115,388 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Cusseta | town | 148 | $80,385 | $1,042 | 10 mi |
| Five Points | town | 139 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Penton | CDP | 93 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Standing Rock | CDP | 56 | $44,167 | n/a | 15 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
People and households in Chambers County
College graduates make up 15% of the adult population. 11.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Chambers County | All of Alabama | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.9% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.3% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.0% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.7% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Chambers County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.7% |
| 60+ min | 5.8% |
What the numbers mean for Chambers County borrowers
Based on the Chambers County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 11% of Chambers County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 14% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Tight rental budgets. With 47% of Chambers County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Budget math at the Chambers County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Chambers County's medians:
- Start: $4,138 gross per month ($49,656 / 12)
- 21% goes to median rent ($871)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $619 left for all other debt payments
- $908: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Alabama rules that apply in Chambers County
Chambers County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Alabama State Banking Department. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Alabama state guide for the statewide picture.
A Chambers County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Chambers County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Alabama borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
The Alabama guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Chambers County?
$49,656 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $63,999 for Alabama. It ranks 46th of 67 in the state.
What do renters pay in Chambers County?
$871 a month at the median, about 21% of median household income.
I own my home in Chambers County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 72% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Chambers County?
By population: Valley, Lanett, La Fayette, Huguley, Fredonia. The county has 10 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Chambers County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.