1st Advantage MortgageIn Chilton County, Alabama, the typical household earns $65,603 a year and the typical rent is $871. 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 Chilton County
- What Chilton County households earn
- Employment and commuting in Chilton County
- Housing costs in Chilton County
- Chilton County next to its neighbors
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Chilton County
- Room for a loan payment in Chilton County
- Chilton County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Chilton County
- Checklist for Chilton County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Chilton County
- More guides for Chilton County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Chilton County
Chilton County is home to about 45,992 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 29th most populous of 67 county-level areas in Alabama. Packed into 693 square miles, that is close to 66 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Birmingham, AL metropolitan area. Of the 4 Census places inside Chilton County, Clanton leads by population with about 8,958; 4 of the 4 are incorporated.
What Chilton County households earn
Chilton County households have a median income of $65,603 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 14th of 67 in Alabama.
| Income band | Share in Chilton County | Difference from Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.6% | -0.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.6% | +4.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.6% | -0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.2% | -3.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Chilton County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. Census counts 14.0% of Chilton County residents in poverty, against 15.6% across Alabama. For a borrower in Chilton County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Employment and commuting in Chilton County
The biggest employer of Chilton County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 18% of workers, followed by construction (16%). Compared with Alabama, the county leans toward construction (16% against 7%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 30% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. Households without a car make up 2.6% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Sector | Chilton County | Compared with Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.5% | -4.2 pts |
| Construction | 16.5% | +9.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.8% | -1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.1% | -2.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.2% | -1.9 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Housing costs in Chilton County
Renters in Chilton County pay a median of $871 a month, 14% below the Alabama figure of $1,007. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 35% of renter households here. Home values center on $161,300, or 2.5 years of median income. The ownership rate is 77%. Median construction year: 1988.
| Housing | Chilton County | Alabama statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $871/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $161,300 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 24% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Chilton 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.
Chilton County next to its neighbors
Autauga County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Elmore County, is 38 miles off. Income ranges from $37,654 in Perry County to $97,961 in Shelby County; 3 of these neighbors top Chilton County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chilton County | - | $65,603 | $871/mo | 77% |
| Autauga County, AL | 23 mi | $72,481 | $1,263/mo | 77% |
| Bibb County, AL | 26 mi | $52,541 | $733/mo | 79% |
| Coosa County, AL | 29 mi | $57,355 | $665/mo | 82% |
| Shelby County, AL | 29 mi | $97,961 | $1,401/mo | 81% |
| Perry County, AL | 36 mi | $37,654 | $592/mo | 78% |
| Elmore County, AL | 38 mi | $78,243 | $1,071/mo | 77% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Chilton County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 33% of Chilton County residents live in one of the 4. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $38,155 in Maplesville to $76,389 in Thorsby. Rent is cheapest in Clanton ($869) and steepest in Maplesville ($1,140). Live in one of these Chilton County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clanton | city | 8,958 | $47,520 | $869 | 6 mi |
| Jemison | city | 2,796 | $65,800 | $1,106 | 8 mi |
| Thorsby | city | 2,365 | $76,389 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Maplesville | town | 1,200 | $38,155 | $1,140 | 10 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Chilton County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Chilton County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $65,603 a year is $5,467 of gross monthly income
- 16% goes to median rent ($871)
- Under a 36% cap, $1,968 total minus rent leaves $1,097
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,480 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Chilton County households compared
Degree holders: 16% of adults over 25. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Chilton County | Alabama | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.5% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.6% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.1% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.0% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.5% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Chilton County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 16.3% |
| 60+ min | 13.9% |
Borrowing situations common in Chilton County
What the Chilton County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Medical bills. 11% of Chilton County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Long drives. With 30% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Chilton County budgets.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 30% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
Checklist for Chilton County applicants
Quick steps for Chilton County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Alabama.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Licensing and complaints for Chilton County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Chilton County resident can confirm its license with the Alabama State Banking Department. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Alabama guide.
More guides for Chilton County
For statewide rules and data, see the Alabama guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Chilton County?
$65,603 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $63,999 for Alabama. It ranks 14th of 67 in the state.
How does Chilton County rent compare with Alabama?
$871 locally versus $1,007 for the state, 14% below.
Should Chilton County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 77% of Chilton 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 Chilton County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Clanton, Jemison, Thorsby, Maplesville.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Chilton County or elsewhere in Alabama, the same rules apply.