1st Advantage MortgageIn Colbert County, Alabama, the typical household earns $60,628 a year and the typical rent is $887. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Alabama license first.
On this page
- Colbert County by the numbers
- Renting and owning in Colbert County
- How much Colbert County households make
- Employment and commuting in Colbert County
- The counties around Colbert County
- Colbert County towns compared
- Budget math at the Colbert County median
- Local borrowing considerations for Colbert County
- Who lives in Colbert County, in numbers
- Steps before you apply in Colbert County
- Lender oversight for Colbert County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Colbert County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Colbert County's population at 58,022; only 24 of Alabama's 67 county-level areas are larger. It covers 593 square miles of land, or about 98 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (6 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Muscle Shoals, with about 16,951 residents, or 29% of the county.
Renting and owning in Colbert County
A typical Colbert County rental runs $887 a month including utilities, which is 12% below Alabama. By the Census definition, 41% of Colbert County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $171,000, or 2.8 years of median income. Owners occupy 71% of homes.
| Home costs | Colbert County | Alabama | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $887/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $171,000 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 24% | n/a |
How much Colbert County households make
Half of Colbert County households take in less than $60,628 a year and half take in more, 5% below the Alabama median of $63,999. Only 19 Alabama counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Colbert County | +/- vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.2% | +1.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.2% | +3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.0% | -0.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.6% | -3.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Colbert County households make $100,000 or more, and 29% make less than $35,000. 17.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 15.6%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.454 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Colbert County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Colbert County residents work in education and health care and 19% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 19% locally and 14% for Alabama. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Colbert County share | +/- vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.3% | -1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.9% | +4.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.3% | -0.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.9% | +1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.0% | -1.1 pts |
| Other services | 6.8% | +2.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
The counties around Colbert County
Lauderdale County is closest, 16 miles from center to center; the sixth, Marion County, is 39 miles off. Lawrence County leads the group on income ($66,071), Marion County trails ($50,088), and Colbert County out-earns 4 of the six. Some neighbors are in Mississippi and Tennessee. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Colbert County resident follows Alabama rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colbert County | - | $60,628 | $887/mo | 71% |
| Lauderdale County, AL | 16 mi | $62,649 | $838/mo | 69% |
| Franklin County, AL | 18 mi | $53,338 | $676/mo | 72% |
| Tishomingo County, MS | 25 mi | $53,040 | $682/mo | 80% |
| Lawrence County, AL | 30 mi | $66,071 | $753/mo | 82% |
| Wayne County, TN | 37 mi | $52,294 | $619/mo | 80% |
| Marion County, AL | 39 mi | $50,088 | $630/mo | 77% |
Colbert County towns compared
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 66% of Colbert County residents live in one of the 6. Incomes vary by place: $75,894 at the median in Muscle Shoals, $33,894 in Leighton. Rent is cheapest in Leighton ($388) and steepest in Muscle Shoals ($1,029). Live in one of these Colbert County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle Shoals | city | 16,951 | $75,894 | $1,029 | 10 mi |
| Sheffield | city | 9,340 | $39,733 | $829 | 7 mi |
| Tuscumbia | city | 9,115 | $59,143 | $748 | 6 mi |
| Cherokee | town | 1,120 | $50,815 | $902 | 10 mi |
| Littleville | town | 932 | $55,817 | $817 | 11 mi |
| Leighton | town | 893 | $33,894 | $388 | 16 mi |
Budget math at the Colbert County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Colbert County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $60,628 a year is $5,052 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $887, which is 18% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $932 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Colbert County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Local borrowing considerations for Colbert County
Where the Colbert County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Who lives in Colbert County, in numbers
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 7.9%, against 9.2% for Alabama.
| Residents | Colbert County | Alabama | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.7% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.6% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.9% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.4% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 43.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.0% |
| 60+ min | 6.2% |
Steps before you apply in Colbert County
A short checklist for Colbert County borrowers:
- Price the Colbert County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Lender oversight for Colbert County
The Alabama State Banking Department is the place to verify any lender's Alabama license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Alabama guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Alabama guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Colbert County earn?
The median is $60,628; 27% earn $100,000 or more and 29% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Colbert County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $887 a month; 41% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Colbert County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, Cherokee, Littleville and 1 more.
Is the fit check different in Colbert County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Colbert County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Alabama it is the Alabama State Banking Department.