1st Advantage MortgageLamar County households have a median income of $50,000 and median rent of $549 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
- Lamar County, AL: the basics
- Housing costs in Lamar County
- Income in Lamar County compared with Alabama
- The Lamar County job picture
- Counties near Lamar County
- The communities that make up Lamar County
- People and households in Lamar County
- Borrowing situations common in Lamar County
- A Lamar County household budget, worked through
- Checking a lender's license in Alabama
- A Lamar County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Lamar County
- Frequently asked questions
Lamar County, AL: the basics
With an estimated 13,693 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lamar County ranks 57th of 67 in Alabama for population. Land area is 605 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 23 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 Vernon, with about 1,714 residents, or 13% of the county.
Housing costs in Lamar County
A typical Lamar County rental runs $549 a month including utilities, which is 45% below Alabama. 52% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $114,000, about 2.3 times the median household income. 76% of Lamar County households own their home and 24% rent.
| Cost | Lamar County | Alabama figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $549/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $114,000 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 16% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 24.5% | 12.3% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Income in Lamar County compared with Alabama
Lamar County households have a median income of $50,000 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 45th of 67 in Alabama.
| Household income | Lamar County | vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.4% | +9.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.9% | -0.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.8% | -3.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.9% | -5.9 pts |
About 37% of households earn under $35,000, while 22% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 18.0%, 2 points higher than the state's 15.6%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
The Lamar County job picture
Manufacturing employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 18%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 26% locally and 14% for Alabama. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.5% in Lamar County. Long commutes are common here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Lamar County workers | vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 25.9% | +11.8 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.8% | -4.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.9% | -1.7 pts |
| Other services | 8.5% | +3.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.4% | -1.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.7% | +0.7 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Counties near Lamar County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (19 to 38 miles). 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Lamar County; Itawamba County is highest at $55,546 and Pickens County lowest at $46,274. The list crosses into Mississippi, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar County | - | $50,000 | $549/mo | 76% |
| Fayette County, AL | 19 mi | $49,488 | $667/mo | 78% |
| Monroe County, MS | 24 mi | $51,866 | $768/mo | 76% |
| Marion County, AL | 27 mi | $50,088 | $630/mo | 77% |
| Lowndes County, MS | 30 mi | $53,812 | $930/mo | 61% |
| Pickens County, AL | 34 mi | $46,274 | $648/mo | 76% |
| Itawamba County, MS | 38 mi | $55,546 | $811/mo | 79% |
The communities that make up Lamar County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Lamar County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 5,586 people, so roughly 59% of residents live outside any named place. Millport has the highest median household income on the list ($76,875) and Vernon the lowest ($27,967), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Sulligent ($515) and steepest in Millport ($650). None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon | town | 1,714 | $27,967 | $530 | 2 mi |
| Sulligent | town | 1,627 | $34,861 | $515 | 8 mi |
| Millport | town | 1,412 | $76,875 | $650 | 16 mi |
| Kennedy | town | 436 | $41,136 | $725 | 15 mi |
| Beaverton | town | 208 | $38,125 | $388 | 11 mi |
| Detroit | town | 189 | n/a | $377 | 17 mi |
People and households in Lamar County
12% of Lamar County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 8.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Lamar County | All of Alabama | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.1% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.5% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.0% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.0% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.5% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.9% |
| 60+ min | 7.6% |
Borrowing situations common in Lamar County
Based on the Lamar County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Manufactured homes. 24% of Lamar County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- 18% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Rent squeeze. 52% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
A Lamar County household budget, worked through
Here is the Lamar County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $50,000 a year is $4,167 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $549, or 13 cents of every gross dollar
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,243 a month
If your rent is above $549, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Checking a lender's license in Alabama
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Lamar County, check the Alabama State Banking Department. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Alabama: Alabama personal loans.
A Lamar County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Lamar County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Lamar County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Lamar County
The Alabama guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lamar County a high-income county?
Its $50,000 median ranks 45th of 67 Alabama counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Lamar County?
$549 a month at the median, about 13% of median household income.
I own my home in Lamar County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 76% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Vernon?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Lamar County, such as Sulligent, Millport, Kennedy.
Are Lamar County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.