1st Advantage MortgageIn Dallas County, Alabama, the typical household earns $35,627 a year and the typical rent is $733. 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
- Who lives in Dallas County
- Renting and owning in Dallas County
- Household income in Dallas County
- The Dallas County job picture
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Dallas County
- How Dallas County compares with nearby counties
- More Dallas County figures
- What the numbers mean for Dallas County borrowers
- Debt-to-income at Dallas County's medians
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Alabama
- More guides for Dallas County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Dallas County
Dallas County is home to about 36,858 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 32nd most populous of 67 county-level areas in Alabama. Land area is 979 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 38 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (3 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Selma, with about 17,057 residents, or 46% of the county.
Renting and owning in Dallas County
Renters in Dallas County pay a median of $733 a month, 27% below the Alabama figure of $1,007. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 62% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $94,600, about 2.7 times the median household income. 64% of Dallas County households own their home and 36% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1977.
| Housing | Dallas County | Alabama statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $733/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $94,600 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 64% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 62% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 38% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.2% | 12.3% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Household income in Dallas County
Half of Dallas County households take in less than $35,627 a year and half take in more, 44% below the Alabama median of $63,999.
| Band | Dallas County | Compared with Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 49.6% | +21.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.9% | -4.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 12.1% | -10.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.4% | -6.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 13% of Dallas County households make $100,000 or more, and 50% make less than $35,000. 31.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 15.6%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.502 here. For a borrower in Dallas 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.
The Dallas County job picture
Education and health care employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 17%. Compared with Alabama, the county leans toward manufacturing (17% against 14%). Averaged over the five survey years, 11.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 82% drive to work alone and 19% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 14.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Dallas County share | +/- vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.3% | -2.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.2% | +3.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | -0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -2.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | -0.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.7% | +1.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Dallas 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 64% of Dallas County residents live in one of the 4. Valley Grande has the highest median household income on the list ($58,929) and Selmont-West Selmont the lowest ($32,443), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Selmont-West Selmont ($493) and steepest in Valley Grande ($761). No Dallas County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selma | city | 17,057 | $33,197 | $713 | 7 mi |
| Valley Grande | city | 4,047 | $58,929 | $761 | 12 mi |
| Selmont-West Selmont | CDP | 2,150 | $32,443 | $493 | 7 mi |
| Orrville | town | 158 | n/a | $724 | 8 mi |
How Dallas County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 41 miles). All of the six report a higher median household income than Dallas County; Autauga County is highest at $72,481 and Lowndes County lowest at $37,052.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas County | - | $35,627 | $733/mo | 64% |
| Perry County, AL | 24 mi | $37,654 | $592/mo | 78% |
| Wilcox County, AL | 26 mi | $40,640 | $745/mo | 77% |
| Lowndes County, AL | 30 mi | $37,052 | $710/mo | 78% |
| Autauga County, AL | 31 mi | $72,481 | $1,263/mo | 77% |
| Marengo County, AL | 40 mi | $43,825 | $716/mo | 70% |
| Hale County, AL | 41 mi | $39,250 | $715/mo | 74% |
More Dallas County figures
Degree holders: 17% of adults over 25. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Dallas County | Alabama statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.5% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.4% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.2% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 14.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 31.0% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 11.0% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 41.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.0% |
| 60+ min | 12.8% |
What the numbers mean for Dallas County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Dallas County borrowers.
- Commuter costs. 19% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 18% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Free help first. 31% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- 62% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Debt-to-income at Dallas County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Dallas County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $35,627 a year is $2,969 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $733, takes 25% of that
- Under a 35% cap, $1,039 total minus rent leaves $306
- Under a 45% cap, $1,336 total minus rent leaves $603
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Dallas County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Checking a lender's license in Alabama
Consumer lenders serving Dallas County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Alabama that is the Alabama State Banking Department. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Alabama state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Dallas County
The Alabama guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Dallas County household make?
About $35,627 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 44% below the Alabama median.
What do renters pay in Dallas County?
$733 a month at the median, about 25% of median household income.
Does this page cover Selma?
Yes, along with the other 3 Census places in Dallas County, such as Valley Grande, Selmont-West Selmont, Orrville.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Dallas County or elsewhere in Alabama, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Dallas 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.