1st Advantage MortgageThe median Etowah County household earns $54,563, and 17% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Etowah County
- Renting and owning in Etowah County
- What Etowah County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Etowah County
- Etowah County and the counties next door
- The communities that make up Etowah County
- Debt-to-income at Etowah County's medians
- Before borrowing in Etowah County
- Who lives in Etowah County, in numbers
- Checklist for Etowah County applicants
- Lender oversight for Etowah County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Etowah County
Etowah County is home to about 103,105 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 13th most populous of 67 county-level areas in Alabama. Land area is 535 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 193 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Gadsden, AL metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Gadsden is the biggest of its 22 Census places, at roughly 33,374 people (32% of the county total).
Renting and owning in Etowah County
Renters in Etowah County pay a median of $847 a month, 16% below the Alabama figure of $1,007. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 48% of renter households here. With a median value of $167,100, a typical Etowah County house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 74%.
| Measure | Etowah County | Alabama | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $847/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $167,100 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.2% | 12.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 17% | 15% | n/a |
Because most Etowah County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
What Etowah County households earn
At $54,563, the typical Etowah County household income is 17% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Etowah County | +/- vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.1% | +3.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.3% | +3.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.9% | -3.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -4.1 pts |
Some 32% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 24% have six-figure incomes. 16.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 15.6%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.462 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Etowah County median.
Work, industries and travel time in Etowah County
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 17%. Compared with Alabama, the county leans toward manufacturing (17% against 14%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.9% in Etowah County. Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 4.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Etowah County share | +/- vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.0% | +1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.0% | +2.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.3% | +1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.2% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.6% | -3.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Etowah County and the counties next door
Cherokee County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, DeKalb County, is 31 miles off. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Etowah County; St. Clair County is highest at $77,463 and DeKalb County lowest at $51,204.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Etowah County | - | $54,563 | $847/mo | 74% |
| Cherokee County, AL | 22 mi | $53,863 | $762/mo | 81% |
| Calhoun County, AL | 23 mi | $55,029 | $826/mo | 70% |
| Marshall County, AL | 24 mi | $62,571 | $795/mo | 76% |
| St. Clair County, AL | 28 mi | $77,463 | $1,084/mo | 83% |
| Blount County, AL | 31 mi | $64,190 | $776/mo | 81% |
| DeKalb County, AL | 31 mi | $51,204 | $693/mo | 78% |
The communities that make up Etowah County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 22 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 84% of Etowah County residents live in one of the 22. Lookout Mountain has the highest median household income on the list ($80,362) and Egypt the lowest ($37,250), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Altoona ($380) and steepest in Tidmore Bend ($1,257). Live in one of these Etowah County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gadsden | city | 33,374 | $40,345 | $808 | 3 mi |
| Rainbow City | city | 10,284 | $56,398 | $1,048 | 9 mi |
| Southside | city | 9,483 | $76,487 | $1,184 | 11 mi |
| Attalla | city | 5,775 | $59,215 | $743 | 7 mi |
| Glencoe | city | 5,353 | $68,517 | $736 | 9 mi |
| Hokes Bluff | city | 4,547 | $74,968 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Sardis City | town | 2,046 | $67,721 | $862 | 10 mi |
| Carlisle-Rockledge | CDP | 1,993 | $60,360 | $550 | 7 mi |
| Whitesboro | CDP | 1,918 | $67,188 | $1,028 | 8 mi |
| Coats Bend | CDP | 1,630 | $70,409 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Altoona | town | 1,252 | $43,056 | $380 | 16 mi |
| Tidmore Bend | CDP | 1,192 | $60,729 | $1,257 | 6 mi |
| Lookout Mountain | CDP | 1,120 | $80,362 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Gallant | CDP | 1,081 | $55,130 | n/a | 12 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Debt-to-income at Etowah County's medians
How much room does a median Etowah County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $4,547 a month: gross income for a household at the Etowah County median
- Housing at the median rent of $847 uses 19%
- $790: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Etowah County's.
Before borrowing in Etowah County
A few patterns in the Etowah County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Etowah County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Rent squeeze. 48% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Who lives in Etowah County, in numbers
18% of Etowah County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 11.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Etowah County | Alabama | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.1% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.9% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.4% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.9% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Etowah County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.0% |
| 60+ min | 8.2% |
Checklist for Etowah County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Alabama borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Lender oversight for Etowah County
The Alabama State Banking Department is the place to verify any lender's Alabama license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Alabama guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Alabama guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Etowah County household make?
About $54,563 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 15% below the Alabama median.
How does Etowah County rent compare with Alabama?
$847 locally versus $1,007 for the state, 16% below.
Does this page cover Gadsden?
Yes, along with the other 21 Census places in Etowah County, such as Rainbow City, Southside, Attalla.
Can Etowah County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Alabama county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Etowah County?
Start with the Alabama State Banking Department, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.