1st Advantage MortgageAbout 81% of Cherokee County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $53,863. 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
- Who lives in Cherokee County
- Household income in Cherokee County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Cherokee County
- Work, industries and travel time in Cherokee County
- Counties near Cherokee County
- The communities that make up Cherokee County
- Cherokee County households compared
- Before borrowing in Cherokee County
- What a median Cherokee County budget can carry
- Who licenses lenders for Cherokee County residents
- Before you sign
- More guides for Cherokee County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Cherokee County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Cherokee County's population at 25,443; only 39 of Alabama's 67 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 554 square miles, that works out to roughly 46.0 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Cherokee County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Piedmont is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 4,740 people (19% of the county total).
Household income in Cherokee County
The median household income in Cherokee County is $53,863; statewide it is $63,999, so Cherokee County runs 16% below Alabama as a whole. Only 34 Alabama counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Cherokee County | vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.8% | +2.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.9% | +5.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.8% | -6.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -2.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 22% of Cherokee County households make $100,000 or more, and 31% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 14.8%, 1 point lower than the state's 15.6%. A household earning below the $53,863 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Cherokee County
Renters in Cherokee County pay a median of $762 a month, 24% below the Alabama figure of $1,007. 40% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 9% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $179,700, about 3.3 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 81%.
| Housing | Cherokee County | Alabama statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $762/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $179,700 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 23.8% | 12.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 31% | 15% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Cherokee 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.
Work, industries and travel time in Cherokee County
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 17%. The sharpest difference from the state is in transportation, warehousing and utilities, at 9% locally and 6% for Alabama. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.9% in Cherokee County. 24% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Cherokee County workers | vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.7% | +3.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.1% | +3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +0.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.1% | +3.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.5% | +0.6 pts |
| Public administration | 6.2% | +0.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Counties near Cherokee County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Cherokee County's, from 22 to 29 miles away. Income ranges from $51,204 in DeKalb County to $65,565 in Floyd County; 5 of these neighbors top Cherokee County's median. Some neighbors are in Georgia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Cherokee County resident follows Alabama rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee County | - | $53,863 | $762/mo | 81% |
| Etowah County, AL | 22 mi | $54,563 | $847/mo | 74% |
| Calhoun County, AL | 23 mi | $55,029 | $826/mo | 70% |
| Polk County, GA | 27 mi | $58,515 | $918/mo | 66% |
| DeKalb County, AL | 28 mi | $51,204 | $693/mo | 78% |
| Floyd County, GA | 29 mi | $65,565 | $1,014/mo | 64% |
| Cleburne County, AL | 29 mi | $55,345 | $798/mo | 79% |
The communities that make up Cherokee County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 49% of Cherokee County residents live in one of the 8. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $40,506 in Piedmont to $73,333 in Sand Rock. None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piedmont | city | 4,740 | $40,506 | $842 | 10 mi |
| Centre | city | 3,700 | $44,664 | $594 | 6 mi |
| Cedar Bluff | town | 1,629 | $52,500 | $642 | 11 mi |
| Leesburg | town | 998 | $56,875 | $588 | 10 mi |
| Sand Rock | town | 868 | $73,333 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Broomtown | CDP | 279 | n/a | n/a | 22 mi |
| Spring Garden | CDP | 201 | $60,919 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Gaylesville | town | 151 | $45,625 | n/a | 15 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Cherokee County households compared
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 7.2%, against 9.2% for Alabama.
| Residents | Cherokee County | Alabama | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.5 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.5% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.6% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.2% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.8% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Cherokee County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.7% |
| 60+ min | 10.6% |
Before borrowing in Cherokee County
Where the Cherokee County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Long drives. With 24% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Cherokee County budgets.
- Mobile home upkeep. 24% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Retirees. At a median age of 47.5, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
What a median Cherokee County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Cherokee County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $4,489 gross per month ($53,863 / 12)
- Less median rent of $762, which is 17% of it
- At 35%, room after rent is $809 a month
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,258 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Who licenses lenders for Cherokee County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Cherokee County, check the Alabama State Banking Department. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Alabama state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Cherokee County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Cherokee County
For statewide rules and data, see the Alabama guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Cherokee County?
$53,863 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $63,999 for Alabama. It ranks 35th of 67 in the state.
Is Cherokee County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $762 against $1,007 statewide, and 40% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Piedmont?
Yes, along with the other 7 Census places in Cherokee County, such as Centre, Cedar Bluff, Leesburg.
Will a Cherokee County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Alabama as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Cherokee County?
Start with the Alabama State Banking Department, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.