1st Advantage MortgageIn Marengo County, Alabama, the typical household earns $43,825 a year and the typical rent is $716. 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
- Marengo County at a glance
- What it costs to live in Marengo County
- Paychecks and income spread in Marengo County
- How Marengo County residents earn a living
- Marengo County towns compared
- Marengo County next to its neighbors
- Debt-to-income at Marengo County's medians
- What the numbers mean for Marengo County borrowers
- Marengo County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Marengo County residents
- More guides for Marengo County
- Frequently asked questions
Marengo County at a glance
Roughly 18,851 residents live in Marengo County, Alabama, 47th by population among the state's 67 counties and county equivalents. It covers 977 square miles of land, or about 19 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 10 Census places inside Marengo County, Demopolis leads by population with about 6,908; 8 of the 10 are incorporated.
What it costs to live in Marengo County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $716 in Marengo County versus $1,007 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 54% of renter households here. Home values center on $107,400, or 2.5 years of median income. Owners occupy 70% of homes. Median construction year: 1982.
| Measure | Marengo County | Alabama | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $716/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $107,400 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 29.5% | 12.3% | n/a |
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?
Paychecks and income spread in Marengo County
Half of Marengo County households take in less than $43,825 a year and half take in more, 32% below the Alabama median of $63,999.
| Households earning | Marengo County | +/- vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 44.2% | +16.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 32.3% | -8.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.3% | -5.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.2% | -1.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 23% of Marengo County households make $100,000 or more, and 44% make less than $35,000. Census counts 21.9% of Marengo County residents in poverty, against 15.6% across Alabama. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.533 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Marengo 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.
How Marengo County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 23%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 23% locally and 14% for Alabama. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 20% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home.
| Sector | Marengo County | Compared with Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.8% | +2.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 23.1% | +9.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -1.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.7% | +2.8 pts |
| Public administration | 5.8% | +0.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.0% | -5.1 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.
Marengo County towns compared
10 Census places fall mainly inside Marengo County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 9,860 residents, leaving about 48% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demopolis | city | 6,908 | $34,802 | $692 | 18 mi |
| Linden | town | 1,961 | $38,667 | $768 | 4 mi |
| Thomaston | town | 308 | $58,125 | $1,094 | 10 mi |
| Sweet Water | town | 216 | $52,411 | $780 | 11 mi |
| Faunsdale | town | 140 | $99,583 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Providence | town | 112 | $50,000 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Myrtlewood | town | 78 | $95,469 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Putnam | CDP | 75 | $39,141 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Dayton | town | 46 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Nanafalia | CDP | 16 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Marengo County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 32 to 40 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $33,310 in Sumter County to $49,249 in Clarke County; 2 of these neighbors top Marengo County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marengo County | - | $43,825 | $716/mo | 70% |
| Choctaw County, AL | 32 mi | $47,813 | $543/mo | 82% |
| Wilcox County, AL | 34 mi | $40,640 | $745/mo | 77% |
| Sumter County, AL | 34 mi | $33,310 | $775/mo | 67% |
| Hale County, AL | 36 mi | $39,250 | $715/mo | 74% |
| Clarke County, AL | 39 mi | $49,249 | $782/mo | 71% |
| Perry County, AL | 40 mi | $37,654 | $592/mo | 78% |
Debt-to-income at Marengo County's medians
How much room does a median Marengo County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $3,652 a month: gross income for a household at the Marengo County median
- Housing at the median rent of $716 uses 20%
- At 36%, room after rent is $599 a month
- At 43%, room after rent is $854 a month
If your rent is above $716, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
What the numbers mean for Marengo County borrowers
Based on the Marengo County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Keeping the car running. At 20% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Marengo County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 29% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 22% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Tight rental budgets. With 54% of Marengo County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Marengo County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 19% of adults over 25. 9.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Marengo County | Alabama statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.5% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.2% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.2% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.9% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Marengo County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.9% |
| 60+ min | 11.9% |
Before you sign
A short checklist for Marengo County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Marengo County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Alabama.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Who licenses lenders for Marengo County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Marengo County borrowers answers to the Alabama State Banking Department. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Alabama: Alabama personal loans.
More guides for Marengo County
The Alabama guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Marengo County a high-income county?
Its $43,825 median ranks 56th of 67 Alabama counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Marengo County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $716 a month; 54% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Marengo County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Demopolis, Linden, Thomaston, Sweet Water, Faunsdale and 5 more.
Are Marengo 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.
Is there a Marengo County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Alabama it is the Alabama State Banking Department.