1st Advantage MortgageClarke County households have a median income of $49,249 and median rent of $782 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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 Clarke County
- How much Clarke County households make
- What it costs to live in Clarke County
- Employment and commuting in Clarke County
- Places inside Clarke County
- Clarke County next to its neighbors
- What a median Clarke County budget can carry
- Reading the Clarke County data as a borrower
- People and households in Clarke County
- Who licenses lenders for Clarke County residents
- Checklist for Clarke County applicants
- More guides for Clarke County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Clarke County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Clarke County's population at 22,543; only 42 of Alabama's 67 county-level areas are larger. It covers 1,238 square miles of land, or about 18 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Clarke County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (5 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Jackson, with about 4,589 residents, or 20% of the county.
How much Clarke County households make
Half of Clarke County households take in less than $49,249 a year and half take in more, 23% below the Alabama median of $63,999.
| Households earning | Clarke County | +/- vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 39.1% | +10.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.8% | -3.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.5% | -4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.7% | -3.1 pts |
Some 39% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 23% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 20.1% of Clarke County residents in poverty, against 15.6% across Alabama. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Clarke County median.
What it costs to live in Clarke County
A typical Clarke County rental runs $782 a month including utilities, which is 22% below Alabama. 58% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. With a median value of $121,700, a typical Clarke County house costs 2.5 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 71%. Median construction year: 1981.
| Measure | Clarke County | Alabama | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $782/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $121,700 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 58% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 25.6% | 12.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 28% | 15% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Employment and commuting in Clarke County
By the Census industry count, 19% of employed Clarke County residents work in education and health care and 17% in manufacturing. Retail trade stands out: 16% of workers here, versus 12% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Clarke County averages 9.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 3% work from home. Only 11.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Clarke County share | +/- vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.3% | -3.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.9% | +2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 16.4% | +4.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.9% | +4.0 pts |
| Construction | 6.8% | -0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.2% | -3.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Places inside Clarke County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Clarke County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 11,637 residents, leaving about 48% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $59,219 at the median in Grove Hill, $37,948 in Jackson. Median rent ranges from $647 in Jackson to $968 in Thomasville. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | city | 4,589 | $37,948 | $647 | 11 mi |
| Thomasville | city | 3,619 | $42,671 | $968 | 17 mi |
| Grove Hill | town | 2,341 | $59,219 | $838 | 3 mi |
| Fulton | town | 431 | $60,926 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Coffeeville | town | 237 | $30,156 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Rockville | CDP | 223 | n/a | n/a | 19 mi |
| Whatley | CDP | 162 | $68,914 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Carlton | CDP | 35 | n/a | n/a | 23 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Clarke County next to its neighbors
Monroe County is closest, 27 miles from center to center; the sixth, Wayne County, is 51 miles off. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Clarke County; Washington County is highest at $61,042 and Wayne County lowest at $37,619. The list crosses into Mississippi, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarke County | - | $49,249 | $782/mo | 71% |
| Monroe County, AL | 27 mi | $42,292 | $666/mo | 72% |
| Washington County, AL | 30 mi | $61,042 | $655/mo | 86% |
| Choctaw County, AL | 33 mi | $47,813 | $543/mo | 82% |
| Wilcox County, AL | 37 mi | $40,640 | $745/mo | 77% |
| Marengo County, AL | 39 mi | $43,825 | $716/mo | 70% |
| Wayne County, MS | 51 mi | $37,619 | $784/mo | 85% |
What a median Clarke County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Clarke County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,104 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $782 uses 19%
- At 40%, room after rent is $860 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Clarke County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Reading the Clarke County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Clarke County borrowers.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 26% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 20% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Rent squeeze. 58% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
People and households in Clarke County
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. About 7% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Clarke County | Alabama | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.0% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.9% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.5% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 11.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.1% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.2% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Clarke County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.6% |
| 60+ min | 10.4% |
Who licenses lenders for Clarke County residents
Clarke County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Alabama State Banking Department. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Alabama guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Clarke County applicants
Steps that save money for Clarke County residents:
- Price the Clarke County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Alabama.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Clarke County
For statewide rules and data, see the Alabama guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clarke County a high-income county?
Its $49,249 median ranks 48th of 67 Alabama counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Clarke County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $782 a month; 58% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Clarke County?
By population: Jackson, Thomasville, Grove Hill, Fulton, Coffeeville. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Clarke County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Clarke County check a lender's license?
With the Alabama State Banking Department. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.