Clarke County, Alabama: commercial real estate data.
Clarke County, Alabama had an estimated 22,142 residents on July 1, 2024, down 4.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 23,091, across 1,238 square miles. County output reached $1.13 bn in 2024, 581 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 11 7(a) approvals worth $7.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Clarke County
How many people live in Clarke County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202422,543
- Households8,423
- Average household size2.68
- Median household income$49,249
- Median age42.8
- Median gross rent$782 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$121,700
- Home value to household income2.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher15.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over15,834
- Population under 184,858
- Share under 1821.5 percent
- Population 65 and over4,748
- Share 65 and over21.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6412,937
- Civilian labor force9,252
- Unemployment rate9.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over52.3 percent
- Rank by population among Alabama counties43rd of 67
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1744th of 3,222
Clarke County is the 43rd largest of 67 Alabama counties by population. A median home costs 2.5 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.5 percent against 21.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Clarke County
Is Clarke County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202422,142
- Census 2020 base population23,091
- Population change since the 2020 census base-4.11 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-163
- Births, 2024298
- Deaths, 2024336
- Natural change, 2024-38
- Net domestic migration, 2024-129
- Net international migration, 20243
- Total net migration, 2024-126
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-477
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2909th of 3,144
The county has lost 4.11 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population fell in 2024 from both sources: deaths exceeded births and more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Clarke County
Where are people moving to Clarke County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving302
- People arriving, from those returns585
- Tax returns filed by households leaving367
- Net household movement-65
- Adjusted gross income arriving$14.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-2.6 m
- Average income of an arriving household$47,765
- Average income of a leaving household$46,455
- Largest single originMobile County (41 households)
- Largest single destinationMobile County (58 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile County | 41 | 71 | $1.4 m |
| Washington County | 31 | 61 | $1.6 m |
| Wilcox County | 31 | 65 | $995,000 |
| Marengo County | 27 | 53 | $1.3 m |
Households arriving report $1,310 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Mobile County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Clarke County
What is the Clarke County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.13 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.10 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.3 percent
- GDP change over five years24.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Alabama areas BEA publishes40th of 67
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1746th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$50,120
Output grew 2.3 percent in the latest year and 24.9 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Clarke County
Employment by industry in Clarke County
- Covered employment, annual average8,150
- Establishments reporting730
- Average annual pay$51,247
- Average weekly wage$986
- Manufacturing, employment1,829
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$82,601
- Retail trade, employment1,325
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,098
- Health care and social assistance, employment817
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$41,972
- Accommodation and food services, employment748
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$15,778
- Finance and insurance, employment269
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment166
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 1,829 | 33 | $82,601 |
| Retail trade | 1,325 | 130 | $32,098 |
| Health care and social assistance | 817 | 130 | $41,972 |
| Accommodation and food services | 748 | 58 | $15,778 |
| Finance and insurance | 269 | 65 | $59,079 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 166 | 20 | $45,144 |
| Construction | 162 | 29 | $60,792 |
| Wholesale trade | 154 | 15 | $47,894 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,829 jobs, 22.4 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Clarke County
How many businesses are in Clarke County?
- Establishments, all industries581
- Employment at those establishments6,615
- Annual payroll$346.2 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Clarke County
Building permits in Clarke County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202410
- Declared construction value permitted$2.2 m
- Single family units authorized10
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$216,600
- Units authorized per 1,000 households1.2
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Clarke County
SBA loans in Clarke County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded11
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$7.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$673,455
- Median 7(a) approval$285,000
- Largest single approval$2,629,700
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)50
- Jobs per approval4.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active9
- Distinct industries receiving approvals8
- Median 7(a) term300 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer63.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms7
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter4
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals9.1 percent
- Leading industry by approval countHotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (3)
- 504 approvals recorded6
- 504 gross approval dollars$10.2 m
- Average 504 approval$1,700,167
- Median 504 approval$2,050,500
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval9.8
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved5.8
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$17.6 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Clarke County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Clarke County
Do SBA loans in Clarke County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded0
- Paid in full0
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure10
- Status: Cancelled1
Only 0 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Clarke County
SBA lending by place in Clarke County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Thomasville, approvals4
- Grove Hill, approvals4
- Jackson, approvals3
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Thomasville | 4 | $3,447,000 |
| Grove Hill | 4 | $1,128,200 |
| Jackson | 3 | $2,832,800 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Clarke County
How large is Clarke County?
- Land area1,238 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Alabama counties3rd of 67
- Width, east to west40 mi
- Height, north to south55.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land18
- Establishments per square mile0.47
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Clarke County
Flood risk in Clarke County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Clarke County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 010316
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book6
- Of those, participating in the NFIP6
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Clarke County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Clarke County (community 010316), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Clarke County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Clarke County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Clarke County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202422,543
- Households8,423
- Average household size2.68
- Median household income$49,249
- Median age42.8
Common questions
Clarke County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Clarke County, Alabama?
The Census Bureau estimates 22,142 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 22,543, in 8,423 households, ranking 43rd of 67 Alabama counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Clarke County's population growing?
The population has fallen 4.11 percent since the 2020 census base of 23,091, to 22,142 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 298 births against 336 deaths, with net migration of -126. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Clarke County?
$49,249. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $121,700, which is 2.5 times income, and median gross rent is $782 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Clarke County?
581 establishments, employing 6,615 people with an annual payroll of $346.2 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Clarke County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,829 jobs, 22.4 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 8,150 jobs at an average annual pay of $51,247, or $986 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Clarke County?
11 7(a) approvals totaling $7.4 m since FY2020, across 9 lenders, with a median approval of $285,000, plus 6 504 approvals worth $10.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Clarke County?
10 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $2.2 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Clarke County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Clarke County come from?
The largest single origin is Mobile County, with 41 households. Arriving households report an average income of $47,765 against $46,455 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Clarke County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Clarke County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Clarke County
Cities and places in Clarke.
8 Census places lie wholly or partly in Clarke County. All 8 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | city | 4,589 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Thomasville | city | 3,619 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Grove Hill | town | 2,341 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Fulton | town | 431 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Coffeeville | town | 237 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rockville | CDP | 223 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Whatley | CDP | 162 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Carlton | CDP | 35 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby