1st Advantage MortgageThe median Crenshaw County household earns $48,560, and 18% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Crenshaw County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Crenshaw County
- How Crenshaw County residents earn a living
- What it costs to live in Crenshaw County
- Towns and communities in Crenshaw County
- Crenshaw County and the counties next door
- Crenshaw County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Crenshaw County borrowers
- Budget math at the Crenshaw County median
- Checking a lender's license in Alabama
- Before you sign
- More guides for Crenshaw County
- Frequently asked questions
Crenshaw County at a glance
Roughly 13,122 residents live in Crenshaw County, Alabama, 58th by population among the state's 67 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 609 square miles, that works out to roughly 21.6 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Crenshaw County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (6 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Luverne, with about 2,694 residents, or 21% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Crenshaw County
Half of Crenshaw County households take in less than $48,560 a year and half take in more, 24% below the Alabama median of $63,999. In the state ranking that is 50th of 67.
| Households earning | Crenshaw County | +/- vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 38.5% | +10.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.4% | +0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.6% | -7.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -3.2 pts |
About 39% of households earn under $35,000, while 20% clear $100,000. Census counts 17.9% of Crenshaw County residents in poverty, against 15.6% across Alabama. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.513 here. A household earning below the $48,560 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Crenshaw County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Crenshaw County residents work in manufacturing and 20% in education and health care. Compared with Alabama, the county leans toward manufacturing (24% against 14%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 26% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 3% work from home.
| Sector | Crenshaw County | Compared with Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 24.3% | +10.3 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.2% | -2.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.5% | -4.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.4% | +1.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | +0.3 pts |
| Public administration | 6.9% | +1.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Crenshaw County
Renters in Crenshaw County pay a median of $661 a month, 34% below the Alabama figure of $1,007. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 24% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $114,000, about 2.3 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 73%. The median year built is 1982.
| Crenshaw County | Alabama | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $661/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $114,000 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 24.5% | 12.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 21% | 15% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Crenshaw 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.
Towns and communities in Crenshaw County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Crenshaw County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 4,350 residents, leaving about 67% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Crenshaw County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luverne | city | 2,694 | $43,269 | $629 | 3 mi |
| Brantley | town | 888 | $27,443 | $377 | 11 mi |
| Dozier | town | 385 | $49,338 | $606 | 16 mi |
| Rutledge | town | 230 | $31,538 | $696 | 1 mi |
| Glenwood | town | 114 | $41,010 | $814 | 10 mi |
| Petrey | town | 39 | $67,321 | n/a | 11 mi |
Crenshaw County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Crenshaw County's, from 21 to 35 miles away. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Crenshaw County; Coffee County is highest at $68,353 and Lowndes County lowest at $37,052.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crenshaw County | - | $48,560 | $661/mo | 73% |
| Butler County, AL | 21 mi | $44,755 | $725/mo | 66% |
| Pike County, AL | 23 mi | $48,677 | $856/mo | 61% |
| Coffee County, AL | 30 mi | $68,353 | $1,018/mo | 72% |
| Montgomery County, AL | 33 mi | $59,386 | $1,092/mo | 58% |
| Covington County, AL | 34 mi | $52,456 | $746/mo | 76% |
| Lowndes County, AL | 35 mi | $37,052 | $710/mo | 78% |
Crenshaw County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 19% of adults over 25. 8.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Crenshaw County | Alabama | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.7% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.0% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.1% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.9% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.0% |
| 60+ min | 14.3% |
What the numbers mean for Crenshaw County borrowers
Based on the Crenshaw County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Long drives. With 26% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Crenshaw County budgets.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 24% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Crenshaw County borrower sees (free reports).
Budget math at the Crenshaw County median
How much room does a median Crenshaw County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $4,047 gross per month ($48,560 / 12)
- Median rent: $661, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 43% cap, $1,740 total minus rent leaves $1,079
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Crenshaw County's.
Checking a lender's license in Alabama
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Crenshaw County, check the Alabama State Banking Department. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Alabama guide.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Crenshaw County:
- Price the Crenshaw County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Alabama license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for Crenshaw County
The Alabama guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Crenshaw County earn?
The median is $48,560; 20% earn $100,000 or more and 39% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Crenshaw County?
$661 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
Which towns does the Crenshaw County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Luverne, Brantley, Dozier, Rutledge, Glenwood.
Is the fit check different in Crenshaw County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Crenshaw County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Alabama it is the Alabama State Banking Department.