1st Advantage MortgageAbout 69% of Lauderdale County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $62,649. 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
- Lauderdale County by the numbers
- What Lauderdale County households earn
- The Lauderdale County job picture
- Lauderdale County housing compared with Alabama
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Lauderdale County
- Lauderdale County and the counties next door
- Debt-to-income at Lauderdale County's medians
- People and households in Lauderdale County
- Reading the Lauderdale County data as a borrower
- Who licenses lenders for Lauderdale County residents
- Checklist for Lauderdale County applicants
- More guides for Lauderdale County
- Frequently asked questions
Lauderdale County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Lauderdale County's population at 95,830; only 14 of Alabama's 67 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 668 square miles, that is close to 143 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL metropolitan area. Florence is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 41,701 people (44% of the county total).
What Lauderdale County households earn
At $62,649, the typical Lauderdale County household income is 5% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 16 Alabama counties post a higher median.
| Band | Lauderdale County | Compared with Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.3% | +0.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.1% | +2.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.2% | -0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.4% | -1.4 pts |
About 28% of households earn under $35,000, while 29% clear $100,000. Census counts 12.2% of Lauderdale County residents in poverty, against 15.6% across Alabama. For a borrower in Lauderdale 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 Lauderdale County job picture
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 15%. Compared with Alabama, the county leans toward retail trade (15% against 12%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 17% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Lauderdale County | Difference from Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.6% | -1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.4% | +1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.3% | +3.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.9% | +1.9 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | +0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.8% | -3.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Lauderdale County housing compared with Alabama
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $838 in Lauderdale County versus $1,007 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 38% of renter households here. Home values center on $200,300, or 3.2 years of median income. The ownership rate is 69%. Median construction year: 1980.
| Cost | Lauderdale County | Alabama figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $838/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $200,300 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 24% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 15% | n/a |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Lauderdale County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Lauderdale County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 49,069 people, so roughly 49% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $48,219 in Underwood-Petersville to $69,722 in Killen. Live in one of these Lauderdale County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florence | city | 41,701 | $52,174 | $820 | 5 mi |
| Underwood-Petersville | CDP | 3,100 | $48,219 | $820 | 3 mi |
| Rogersville | town | 1,260 | $66,127 | $912 | 21 mi |
| Killen | town | 1,150 | $69,722 | $960 | 8 mi |
| St. Florian | town | 697 | $58,750 | $629 | 3 mi |
| Lexington | town | 638 | $57,356 | $642 | 16 mi |
| Anderson | town | 410 | $110,682 | $900 | 21 mi |
| Waterloo | town | 113 | n/a | $700 | 23 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Lauderdale County and the counties next door
Colbert County is closest, 16 miles from center to center; the sixth, Tishomingo County, is 35 miles off. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Lauderdale County; Lawrence County is highest at $66,071 and Wayne County lowest at $52,294. The list crosses into Mississippi, Tennessee, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lauderdale County | - | $62,649 | $838/mo | 69% |
| Colbert County, AL | 16 mi | $60,628 | $887/mo | 71% |
| Wayne County, TN | 25 mi | $52,294 | $619/mo | 80% |
| Lawrence County, TN | 26 mi | $54,706 | $763/mo | 78% |
| Lawrence County, AL | 32 mi | $66,071 | $753/mo | 82% |
| Franklin County, AL | 34 mi | $53,338 | $676/mo | 72% |
| Tishomingo County, MS | 35 mi | $53,040 | $682/mo | 80% |
Debt-to-income at Lauderdale County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Lauderdale County's medians:
- $5,221 a month: gross income for a household at the Lauderdale County median
- Median rent: $838, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,407 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $838, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
People and households in Lauderdale County
Degree holders: 30% of adults over 25. 8.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Lauderdale County | Alabama | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.8% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.4% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.8% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Lauderdale County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.2% |
| 60+ min | 12.2% |
Reading the Lauderdale County data as a borrower
Based on the Lauderdale County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Lauderdale County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Consolidating cards in Lauderdale County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Who licenses lenders for Lauderdale County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Lauderdale County borrowers answers to the Alabama State Banking Department. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Alabama state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Lauderdale County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Lauderdale County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Alabama.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for Lauderdale County
For statewide rules and data, see the Alabama guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Lauderdale County?
$62,649 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $63,999 for Alabama. It ranks 17th of 67 in the state.
Is Lauderdale County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $838 against $1,007 statewide, and 38% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Lauderdale County?
By population: Florence, Underwood-Petersville, Rogersville, Killen, St. Florian. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Can Lauderdale 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 Lauderdale County?
Start with the Alabama State Banking Department, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.