1st Advantage MortgageIn Talladega County, Alabama, the typical household earns $57,776 a year and the typical rent is $785. 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
- Talladega County at a glance
- Renting and owning in Talladega County
- Paychecks and income spread in Talladega County
- Jobs and commutes in Talladega County
- Talladega County next to its neighbors
- Towns and communities in Talladega County
- Budget math at the Talladega County median
- Before borrowing in Talladega County
- People and households in Talladega County
- Steps before you apply in Talladega County
- Licensing and complaints for Talladega County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Talladega County at a glance
Talladega County is home to about 81,021 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 19th most populous of 67 county-level areas in Alabama. Packed into 737 square miles, that is close to 110 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Talladega County is not part of any metropolitan area. Talladega is the biggest of its 12 Census places, at roughly 14,760 people (18% of the county total).
Renting and owning in Talladega County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $785 in Talladega County versus $1,007 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 44% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $149,200, about 2.6 times the median household income. 72% of Talladega County households own their home and 28% rent.
| Housing | Talladega County | Alabama statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $785/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $149,200 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 24.8% | 12.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 15% | n/a |
Paychecks and income spread in Talladega County
At $57,776, the typical Talladega County household income is 12% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 25 Alabama counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Talladega County | vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.2% | +4.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.6% | +3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.8% | -4.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -3.4 pts |
Some 32% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 23% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 17.8%, 2 points higher than the state's 15.6%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.458 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $57,776 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Talladega County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Talladega County residents work in education and health care and 22% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 22% locally and 14% for Alabama. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.8% in Talladega County. Long commutes are common here: 21% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 6.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Talladega County | Difference from Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.5% | -0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 22.1% | +8.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.6% | -2.0 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | +0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.0% | -3.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.9% | +1.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Talladega County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Clay County at 19 miles out to Tallapoosa County at 41. Income ranges from $55,029 in Calhoun County to $97,961 in Shelby County; 3 of these neighbors top Talladega County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talladega County | - | $57,776 | $785/mo | 72% |
| Clay County, AL | 19 mi | $55,250 | $619/mo | 79% |
| St. Clair County, AL | 25 mi | $77,463 | $1,084/mo | 83% |
| Shelby County, AL | 29 mi | $97,961 | $1,401/mo | 81% |
| Coosa County, AL | 31 mi | $57,355 | $665/mo | 82% |
| Calhoun County, AL | 34 mi | $55,029 | $826/mo | 70% |
| Tallapoosa County, AL | 41 mi | $59,356 | $765/mo | 76% |
Towns and communities in Talladega County
12 Census places fall mainly inside Talladega County; the 12 biggest are below. They account for 46,008 residents, leaving about 43% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Fayetteville has the highest median household income on the list ($100,255) and Mignon the lowest ($32,818), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Mignon ($715) and steepest in Lincoln ($919). None of the 12 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talladega | city | 14,760 | $44,198 | $776 | 6 mi |
| Sylacauga | city | 12,309 | $50,017 | $773 | 14 mi |
| Lincoln | city | 7,305 | $57,145 | $919 | 15 mi |
| Childersburg | city | 4,655 | $52,338 | $793 | 11 mi |
| Vincent | town | 2,050 | $52,813 | $845 | 13 mi |
| Munford | town | 1,508 | $42,284 | $778 | 17 mi |
| Fayetteville | CDP | 1,154 | $100,255 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Mignon | CDP | 865 | $32,818 | $715 | 13 mi |
| Oak Grove | town | 856 | $47,857 | $900 | 14 mi |
| Waldo | town | 239 | $29,000 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Talladega Springs | town | 166 | $73,125 | n/a | 23 mi |
| Bon Air | town | 141 | $38,000 | $910 | 12 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Budget math at the Talladega County median
How much room does a median Talladega County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $57,776 a year is $4,815 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $785, takes 16% of that
- $1,141: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before borrowing in Talladega County
Based on the Talladega County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Vehicle repairs. 21% of Talladega County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- 25% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
People and households in Talladega County
17% of Talladega County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Talladega County | Alabama | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.5% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.0% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.1% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.9% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.8% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.8% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Talladega County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.0% |
| 60+ min | 11.6% |
Steps before you apply in Talladega County
A short checklist for Talladega County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Talladega County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Alabama.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Licensing and complaints for Talladega 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.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Alabama guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Talladega County?
$57,776 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $63,999 for Alabama. It ranks 26th of 67 in the state.
How does Talladega County rent compare with Alabama?
$785 locally versus $1,007 for the state, 22% below.
I live in a small Talladega County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Talladega, Sylacauga, Lincoln, Childersburg, Vincent and 7 more.
Does living in Talladega 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 Talladega County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Talladega County?
Start with the Alabama State Banking Department, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.