1st Advantage MortgageEscambia County households have a median income of $48,225 and median rent of $766 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 Escambia County
- Income in Escambia County compared with Alabama
- Escambia County housing compared with Alabama
- The Escambia County job picture
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Escambia County
- Escambia County and the counties next door
- Budget math at the Escambia County median
- Local borrowing considerations for Escambia County
- Escambia County households compared
- Checklist for Escambia County applicants
- Alabama rules that apply in Escambia County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Escambia County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Escambia County's population at 36,629; only 32 of Alabama's 67 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 945 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 39 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (6 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Atmore, with about 8,334 residents, or 23% of the county.
Income in Escambia County compared with Alabama
Escambia County households have a median income of $48,225 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 51st of 67 in Alabama.
| Household income | Escambia County | vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.6% | +9.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.5% | +4.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.7% | -9.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.1% | -4.7 pts |
Some 38% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 17% have six-figure incomes. 20.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 15.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.465 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Escambia County median.
Escambia County housing compared with Alabama
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $766 in Escambia County versus $1,007 statewide. By the Census definition, 44% of Escambia County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $136,500, a typical Escambia County house costs 2.8 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 71%.
| Housing | Escambia County | Alabama statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $766/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $136,500 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 24% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 24% | 15% | n/a |
The Escambia County job picture
The biggest employer of Escambia County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 19% of workers, followed by education and health care (18%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 19% locally and 14% for Alabama. The survey's unemployment rate for Escambia County averages 10.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 3% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Escambia County | Gap to Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 19.2% | +5.1 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.6% | -5.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.5% | +3.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.6% | +2.6 pts |
| Public administration | 7.8% | +2.2 pts |
| Construction | 6.6% | -0.3 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 Escambia County
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 51% of Escambia County residents live in one of the 6. Brewton has the highest median household income on the list ($50,721) and East Brewton the lowest ($35,571), counting places with at least 500 residents. This guide covers each of the 6 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atmore | city | 8,334 | $38,862 | $777 | 17 mi |
| Brewton | city | 5,186 | $50,721 | $695 | 6 mi |
| East Brewton | city | 3,168 | $35,571 | $732 | 7 mi |
| Flomaton | town | 1,535 | $42,708 | $742 | 9 mi |
| Riverview | town | 260 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Pollard | town | 147 | $75,278 | n/a | 7 mi |
Escambia County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Conecuh County at 24 miles out to Baldwin County at 47. Income ranges from $41,327 in Conecuh County to $91,922 in Santa Rosa County; 4 of these neighbors top Escambia County's median. The list crosses into Florida, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escambia County | - | $48,225 | $766/mo | 71% |
| Conecuh County, AL | 24 mi | $41,327 | $834/mo | 74% |
| Santa Rosa County, FL | 32 mi | $91,922 | $1,544/mo | 81% |
| Monroe County, AL | 34 mi | $42,292 | $666/mo | 72% |
| Escambia County, FL | 42 mi | $67,500 | $1,321/mo | 65% |
| Covington County, AL | 43 mi | $52,456 | $746/mo | 76% |
| Baldwin County, AL | 47 mi | $78,775 | $1,277/mo | 78% |
Budget math at the Escambia County median
Escambia County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $48,225 a year is $4,019 of gross monthly income
- 19% goes to median rent ($766)
- Under a 36% cap, $1,447 total minus rent leaves $681
- At 43%, room after rent is $962 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Escambia County's.
Local borrowing considerations for Escambia County
A few patterns in the Escambia County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Vehicle repairs. 18% of Escambia County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 21% of Escambia County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- 20% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
Escambia County households compared
Degree holders: 14% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 9.2%, against 9.2% for Alabama.
| People and households | Escambia County | Alabama | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.5% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.6% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.2% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.9% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.0% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 10.1% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.8% |
| 60+ min | 8.6% |
Checklist for Escambia County applicants
A short checklist for Escambia County borrowers:
- Price the Escambia County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Escambia County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Alabama rules that apply in Escambia County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Escambia County borrowers answers to the Alabama State Banking Department. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Alabama guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Alabama guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Escambia County household make?
About $48,225 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 25% below the Alabama median.
How does Escambia County rent compare with Alabama?
$766 locally versus $1,007 for the state, 24% below.
I live in a small Escambia County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Atmore, Brewton, East Brewton, Flomaton, Riverview and 1 more.
Does living in Escambia County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Escambia County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Escambia County?
Start with the Alabama State Banking Department, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.