1st Advantage MortgageThe median Pickens County household earns $46,274, and 20% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Pickens County at a glance
- Employment and commuting in Pickens County
- Household income in Pickens County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Pickens County
- Places inside Pickens County
- Regional comparison for Pickens County
- Debt-to-income at Pickens County's medians
- Pickens County households compared
- Reading the Pickens County data as a borrower
- Before you sign
- Alabama rules that apply in Pickens County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Pickens County at a glance
Roughly 18,721 residents live in Pickens County, Alabama, 48th by population among the state's 67 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 881 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 21 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (8 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Aliceville, with about 2,211 residents, or 12% of the county.
Employment and commuting in Pickens County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Pickens County residents work in manufacturing and 18% in education and health care. Manufacturing stands out: 22% of workers here, versus 14% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Pickens County averages 4.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). Long commutes are common here: 29% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 7.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Pickens County share | +/- vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22.4% | +8.3 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.7% | -4.9 pts |
| Construction | 11.9% | +5.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -1.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.8% | +1.9 pts |
| Public administration | 6.6% | +1.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Pickens County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Household income in Pickens County
At $46,274, the typical Pickens County household income is 30% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 53rd of 67.
| Households earning | Pickens County | +/- vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.6% | +9.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.7% | -1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.0% | -2.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.7% | -5.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 23% of Pickens County households make $100,000 or more, and 38% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 20.0%, 4 points higher than the state's 15.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.475 here. For a borrower in Pickens 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.
Rent, home values and ownership in Pickens County
Renters in Pickens County pay a median of $648 a month, 36% below the Alabama figure of $1,007. By the Census definition, 40% of Pickens County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $123,900, or 2.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 76% of homes. Median construction year: 1979.
| Cost | Pickens County | Alabama figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $648/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $123,900 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 24% | n/a |
Because most Pickens 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.
Places inside Pickens County
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 41% of Pickens County residents live in one of the 9. Gordo has the highest median household income on the list ($47,569) and Carrollton the lowest ($31,000), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Reform ($400) and steepest in Pickensville ($817). No Pickens County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 9.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aliceville | city | 2,211 | $39,167 | $702 | 12 mi |
| Gordo | town | 1,723 | $47,569 | $528 | 11 mi |
| Reform | town | 1,597 | $33,578 | $400 | 7 mi |
| Pickensville | town | 803 | $34,250 | $817 | 12 mi |
| Carrollton | town | 781 | $31,000 | $436 | 2 mi |
| Macedonia | CDP | 441 | $31,453 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Memphis | town | 56 | $2,499 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Ethelsville | town | 51 | $48,750 | n/a | 11 mi |
| McMullen | town | 14 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
Regional comparison for Pickens County
Lowndes County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Fayette County, is 35 miles off. Income ranges from $29,200 in Greene County to $66,231 in Tuscaloosa County; 4 of these neighbors top Pickens County's median. Some neighbors are in Mississippi. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Pickens County resident follows Alabama rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pickens County | - | $46,274 | $648/mo | 76% |
| Lowndes County, MS | 23 mi | $53,812 | $930/mo | 61% |
| Noxubee County, MS | 30 mi | $33,833 | $677/mo | 73% |
| Greene County, AL | 32 mi | $29,200 | $432/mo | 62% |
| Tuscaloosa County, AL | 33 mi | $66,231 | $1,037/mo | 61% |
| Lamar County, AL | 34 mi | $50,000 | $549/mo | 76% |
| Fayette County, AL | 35 mi | $49,488 | $667/mo | 78% |
Debt-to-income at Pickens County's medians
How much room does a median Pickens County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $3,856 gross per month ($46,274 / 12)
- Less median rent of $648, which is 17% of it
- $740: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Pickens County households compared
College graduates make up 13% of the adult population. About 7% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Pickens County | Alabama | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.1% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.7% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.5% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.0% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Pickens County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 20.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 30.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 16.6% |
| 60+ min | 12.8% |
Reading the Pickens County data as a borrower
Where the Pickens County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Keeping the car running. At 29% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Pickens County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Manufactured homes. 24% of Pickens County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 20% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Pickens County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Pickens County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Alabama license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Alabama rules that apply in Pickens County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Pickens County, check the Alabama State Banking Department. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Alabama guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
The Alabama guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Pickens County household make?
About $46,274 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 28% below the Alabama median.
How much is rent in Pickens County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $648 a month; 40% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Pickens County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Aliceville, Gordo, Reform, Pickensville, Carrollton.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Pickens County or elsewhere in Alabama, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Pickens County residents?
The Alabama State Banking Department licenses consumer lenders in Alabama; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.