1st Advantage MortgageThe median St. Clair County household earns $77,463, and 11% 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
- St. Clair County at a glance
- What St. Clair County households earn
- Renting and owning in St. Clair County
- Employment and commuting in St. Clair County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in St. Clair County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- People and households in St. Clair County
- Reading the St. Clair County data as a borrower
- Debt-to-income at St. Clair County's medians
- Licensing and complaints for St. Clair County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
St. Clair County at a glance
Roughly 94,166 residents live in St. Clair County, Alabama, 16th by population among the state's 67 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 632 square miles, that is close to 149 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Birmingham, AL metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (11 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Trussville, with about 26,673 residents, or 28% of the county.
What St. Clair County households earn
Half of St. Clair County households take in less than $77,463 a year and half take in more, 21% above the Alabama median of $63,999. That places it 6th among Alabama's 67 county-level areas.
| Household income | St. Clair County | vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.9% | -8.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.8% | +2.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.4% | +7.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.9% | -1.9 pts |
About 20% of households earn under $35,000, while 36% clear $100,000. Census counts 11.4% of St. Clair County residents in poverty, against 15.6% across Alabama. A household earning below the $77,463 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in St. Clair County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,084 in St. Clair County versus $1,007 statewide. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 15% spend half or more. With a median value of $226,300, a typical St. Clair County house costs 2.9 times what the median household earns in a year. 83% of St. Clair County households own their home and 17% rent. The median year built is 1998.
| Home costs | St. Clair County | Alabama | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,084/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $226,300 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 22.1% | 12.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 15% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like St. Clair County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Employment and commuting in St. Clair County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed St. Clair County residents work in education and health care and 12% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 10% locally and 7% for Alabama. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 25% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 3.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of St. Clair County workers | vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.8% | -0.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.5% | -1.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -1.1 pts |
| Construction | 9.9% | +2.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.6% | -0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | -0.8 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.
Cities, towns and CDPs in St. Clair County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 87% of St. Clair County residents live in one of the 11. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $37,708 in Ragland to $123,275 in Trussville. Median rent ranges from $522 in Ragland to $1,711 in Trussville. None of the 11 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trussville | city | 26,673 | $123,275 | $1,711 | 15 mi |
| Pell City | city | 13,587 | $68,638 | $1,099 | 11 mi |
| Moody | city | 13,488 | $86,627 | $1,553 | 13 mi |
| Margaret | city | 5,877 | $101,802 | $1,117 | 9 mi |
| Odenville | city | 5,197 | $70,296 | $1,581 | 7 mi |
| Springville | city | 5,081 | $84,231 | $834 | 10 mi |
| Argo | city | 4,479 | $105,128 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Ashville | city | 2,464 | $69,362 | $738 | 8 mi |
| Riverside | city | 2,097 | $83,664 | $1,161 | 9 mi |
| Ragland | town | 1,682 | $37,708 | $522 | 10 mi |
| Steele | town | 1,149 | $72,386 | $739 | 17 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 23 to 37 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than St. Clair County; Shelby County is highest at $97,961 and Etowah County lowest at $54,563.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Clair County | - | $77,463 | $1,084/mo | 83% |
| Blount County, AL | 23 mi | $64,190 | $776/mo | 81% |
| Talladega County, AL | 25 mi | $57,776 | $785/mo | 72% |
| Etowah County, AL | 28 mi | $54,563 | $847/mo | 74% |
| Calhoun County, AL | 28 mi | $55,029 | $826/mo | 70% |
| Jefferson County, AL | 36 mi | $66,388 | $1,193/mo | 64% |
| Shelby County, AL | 37 mi | $97,961 | $1,401/mo | 81% |
People and households in St. Clair County
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. About 7% go without health insurance.
| Measure | St. Clair County | Alabama statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.4% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.2% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.2% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.7% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.4% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.6% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of St. Clair County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 17.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 28.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 17.1% |
| 60+ min | 8.2% |
Reading the St. Clair County data as a borrower
Where the St. Clair County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Commuter costs. 25% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- 22% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Debt-to-income at St. Clair County's medians
How much room does a median St. Clair County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, St. Clair County: $6,455
- Less median rent of $1,084, which is 17% of it
- Under a 36% cap, $2,324 total minus rent leaves $1,240
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,692 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in St. Clair County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Licensing and complaints for St. Clair County
The Alabama State Banking Department is the place to verify any lender's Alabama license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Alabama guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Quick steps for St. Clair 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.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
The Alabama guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical St. Clair County household make?
About $77,463 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 21% above the Alabama median.
How much is rent in St. Clair County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,084 a month; 43% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in St. Clair County?
By population: Trussville, Pell City, Moody, Margaret, Odenville. The county has 11 Census places in all.
Does living in St. Clair County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a St. Clair County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for St. Clair 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.