1st Advantage MortgageIn Cleburne County, Alabama, the typical household earns $55,345 a year and the typical rent is $798. County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving Cleburne County, and confirm each one's Alabama license.
On this page
- A quick profile of Cleburne County
- Where Cleburne County households live
- Cleburne County against other Alabama counties
- Cleburne County income bands
- Employment and commuting in Cleburne County
- The counties around Cleburne County
- Places inside Cleburne County
- Debt-to-income at Cleburne County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Cleburne County
- Age, degrees and coverage in Cleburne County
- Checklist for Cleburne County applicants
- Verifying a lender from Cleburne County
- Other Alabama guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Cleburne County
Cleburne County is home to about 15,426 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 53rd most populous of 67 county-level areas in Alabama. Its 560 square miles average 28 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 5 Census places inside Cleburne County, Heflin leads by population with about 3,467; 4 of the 5 are incorporated.
Where Cleburne County households live
Renters in Cleburne County pay a median of $798 a month, 21% below the Alabama figure of $1,007. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 50% in Cleburne County, 49% statewide. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $165,600, about 3.0 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 79%. Median construction year: 1989. Against the median U.S. county, Cleburne County rent is 9% below.
| Cleburne County | Alabama | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile homes | 26.1% | 12.3% | +13.8 pts |
| Burdened owners | 13% | 24% | -10.9 pts |
| Owners | 79% | 70% | +8.3 pts |
| Median home value | $165,600 | $209,900 | 21% lower |
| Median gross rent | $798/mo | $1,007/mo | 21% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 49% | +1.7 pts |
With 79% of Cleburne County homes owner-occupied, equity is a real alternative for many readers; just remember a missed HELOC payment puts the home at risk. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Cleburne County against other Alabama counties
Ranked against the other 66 county-level areas in Alabama, these are the Cleburne County figures furthest from the middle.
- Few Alabama counties match Cleburne County on the ACS unemployment rate: 2.6% here, 4.7% for the state, ranking 4th lowest of 67. Low unemployment does not lower your rate; your credit does.
- The share of commutes over 45 minutes: 28% in Cleburne County. Only 9 of 67 Alabama counties are higher. With long commutes, a reliable car is part of keeping the job.
- Few Alabama counties match Cleburne County on homeownership: 79% here, 70% for the state, ranking 12th highest of 67. An owner-heavy county means repairs are a common reason to borrow.
- On the poverty rate, Cleburne County sits near the bottom of Alabama at 13.7%, 13th lowest of 67. A low poverty rate does not mean every budget has room; test the payment.
Cleburne County income bands
At $55,345, the typical Cleburne County household income is 16% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 30th among Alabama's 67 county-level areas.
| Household income | Cleburne County | vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.1% | +2.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.9% | +3.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.3% | -1.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.7% | -5.1 pts |
Some 31% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 24% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 13.7% of Cleburne County residents in poverty, against 15.6% across Alabama. None of these numbers decides a Cleburne County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Cleburne County
Education and health care (19%), manufacturing (17%) and construction (13%) lead Cleburne County's job mix. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 13% locally and 7% for Alabama. Unemployment in Cleburne County, ACS five-year: 2.6%; Alabama: 4.7%. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 28%; under 15 minutes: 13%.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Cleburne County | Gap to Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.9% | -3.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.9% | +2.8 pts |
| Construction | 12.9% | +5.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | -0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.4% | -0.7 pts |
| Other services | 7.0% | +2.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The counties around Cleburne County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (19 to 29 miles). Income ranges from $52,338 in Randolph County to $73,714 in Carroll County; 3 of these neighbors top Cleburne County's median. Some neighbors are in Georgia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Cleburne County resident follows Alabama rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleburne County | - | $55,345 | $798/mo | 79% |
| Haralson County, GA | 19 mi | $72,127 | $923/mo | 72% |
| Calhoun County, AL | 19 mi | $55,029 | $826/mo | 70% |
| Carroll County, GA | 26 mi | $73,714 | $1,153/mo | 71% |
| Randolph County, AL | 26 mi | $52,338 | $708/mo | 77% |
| Cherokee County, AL | 29 mi | $53,863 | $762/mo | 81% |
| Polk County, GA | 29 mi | $58,515 | $918/mo | 66% |
Places inside Cleburne County
5 Census places fall mainly inside Cleburne County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 5,600 residents, leaving about 64% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $34,914, Ranburne over Heflin. Median rent ranges from $755 in Heflin to $919 in Ranburne. Heflin and every other Cleburne County community use this county guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heflin | city | 3,467 | $46,711 | $755 | 3 mi |
| Hollis Crossroads | CDP | 785 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Ranburne | town | 556 | $81,625 | $919 | 14 mi |
| Fruithurst | town | 554 | $50,903 | $807 | 6 mi |
| Edwardsville | town | 238 | $79,250 | n/a | 16 mi |
Debt-to-income at Cleburne County's medians
How much room does a median Cleburne County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $4,612 gross per month ($55,345 / 12)
- Less median rent of $798, which is 17% of it
- $816: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,277 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $798, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Local borrowing considerations for Cleburne County
- Vehicle repairs. 28% of Cleburne County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Mobile homes in Cleburne County. At 26% of units, they are a big part of local housing; check whether yours is titled as real or personal property.
- Rent at $798. With 50% burdened, a short term and small amount keep risk down.
Age, degrees and coverage in Cleburne County
In Cleburne County, 17% of adults have at least a four-year degree (28% in Alabama). Uninsured, Cleburne County: 8.8%; Alabama: 9.2%.
| People and households | Cleburne County | Compared with Alabama | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.0% | -11.4 pts | -5.2 pts |
| Median age | 42.7 | +3.4 yrs | +1.2 yrs |
| No high school diploma | 14.1% | +2.7 pts | n/a |
| Work from home | 6.2% | -2.7 pts | -2.5 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.6% | -2.1 pts | -1.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 13.7% | -1.9 pts | +0.5 pts |
| No health insurance | 8.8% | -0.4 pts | +1.0 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.6% | +0.2 pts | +0.2 pts |
| Commute length | Cleburne County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 13.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 27.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.2% |
| 60+ min | 17.1% |
Checklist for Cleburne County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Alabama.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Verifying a lender from Cleburne County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Cleburne County borrowers answers to the Alabama State Banking Department. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Alabama page has statewide figures to set beside Cleburne County's.
Other Alabama guides
Next step up from Cleburne County:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Cleburne County household make?
About $55,345 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 14% below the Alabama median.
What do renters pay in Cleburne County?
$798 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
I live near Heflin. Which guide is mine?
This one. Heflin and the rest of Cleburne County have no separate city guide.
Will a Cleburne 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 regulates personal lenders for Cleburne County residents?
The Alabama State Banking Department licenses consumer lenders in Alabama; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.