Etowah County, Alabama: commercial real estate data.
Etowah County, Alabama had an estimated 103,207 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 103,415, across 535 square miles. County output reached $4.03 bn in 2024, 1,954 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 30 7(a) approvals worth $18.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Etowah County
How many people live in Etowah County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024103,105
- Households39,411
- Average household size2.62
- Median household income$54,563
- Median age41.7
- Median gross rent$847 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$167,100
- Home value to household income3.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher18.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over72,481
- Population under 1822,582
- Share under 1821.9 percent
- Population 65 and over20,340
- Share 65 and over19.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6460,183
- Civilian labor force45,906
- Unemployment rate5.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over57.0 percent
- Rank by population among Alabama counties13th of 67
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included606th of 3,222
Etowah County is the 13th largest of 67 Alabama counties by population. A median home costs 3.1 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.9 percent against 19.7 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Etowah County
Is Etowah County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024103,207
- Census 2020 base population103,415
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.20 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202433
- Births, 20241,185
- Deaths, 20241,612
- Natural change, 2024-427
- Net domestic migration, 2024296
- Net international migration, 2024164
- Total net migration, 2024460
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,630
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1911th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.20 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Etowah County
Where are people moving to Etowah County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,992
- People arriving, from those returns3,782
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,880
- Net household movement112
- Adjusted gross income arriving$111.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$27.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$55,897
- Average income of a leaving household$44,376
- Largest single originMarshall County (253 households)
- Largest single destinationMarshall County (230 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall County | 253 | 497 | $21.9 m |
| Calhoun County | 213 | 395 | $8.7 m |
| Jefferson County | 126 | 213 | $9.2 m |
| St. Clair County | 121 | 238 | $7.3 m |
| DeKalb County | 100 | 187 | $4.3 m |
| Cherokee County | 75 | 153 | $2.2 m |
| Blount County | 68 | 133 | $2.6 m |
| Talladega County | 46 | 88 | $1.8 m |
Households arriving report $11,521 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 Marshall 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.
Etowah County
What is the Etowah County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$4.03 bn
- County GDP, 2023$3.80 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.9 percent
- GDP change over five years32.7 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Alabama areas BEA publishes16th of 67
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes803rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$39,044
Output grew 5.9 percent in the latest year and 32.7 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.
Etowah County
Employment by industry in Etowah County
- Covered employment, annual average33,010
- Establishments reporting2,439
- Average annual pay$46,564
- Average weekly wage$895
- Health care and social assistance, employment6,994
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$56,095
- Retail trade, employment4,813
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,677
- Manufacturing, employment4,344
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$50,886
- Accommodation and food services, employment3,561
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,496
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment1,824
- Construction, employment1,078
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 6,994 | 454 | $56,095 |
| Retail trade | 4,813 | 400 | $32,677 |
| Manufacturing | 4,344 | 116 | $50,886 |
| Accommodation and food services | 3,561 | 210 | $20,496 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,824 | 112 | $41,284 |
| Construction | 1,078 | 158 | $58,648 |
| Wholesale trade | 950 | 103 | $63,953 |
| Finance and insurance | 935 | 153 | $68,074 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 6,994 jobs, 21.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Etowah County
How many businesses are in Etowah County?
- Establishments, all industries1,954
- Employment at those establishments28,155
- Annual payroll$1.18 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents19.0
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.
Etowah County
Building permits in Etowah County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024133
- Declared construction value permitted$38.9 m
- Single family units authorized117
- Multifamily units authorized16
- Multifamily share of units12.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$292,427
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.4
Single-family homes are 88.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Etowah County
SBA loans in Etowah County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded30
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$18.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$626,607
- Median 7(a) approval$303,500
- 10th percentile approval$29,500
- 90th percentile approval$1,697,000
- Largest single approval$2,726,800
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)366
- Jobs per approval12.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active18
- Distinct industries receiving approvals23
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer20.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms6
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter21
- Franchise loans4
- Franchise share of approvals13.3 percent
- Leading industry by approval countElectrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors (3)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (4)
- 504 approvals recorded15
- 504 gross approval dollars$12.3 m
- Average 504 approval$821,067
- Median 504 approval$685,000
- Distinct CDCs active5
- 504 jobs per approval13.1
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved15.9
- Most active CDCBirmingham Citywide Local Development Company (9)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$31.1 m
The average approval of $626,607 sits well above the median of $303,500, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 20.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
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.
Etowah County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Etowah County
Do SBA loans in Etowah County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded3
- Paid in full2
- Charged off1
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Cancelled5
- Status: Paid in full2
- Status: Exempt from disclosure21
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 3 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.
Etowah County
SBA lending by place in Etowah County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending7
- Gadsden, approvals12
- Rainbow City, approvals9
- Attalla, approvals4
- Glencoe, approvals2
- Altoona, approvals1
- Hokes Bluff, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Gadsden | 12 | $2,434,000 |
| Rainbow City | 9 | $7,961,200 |
| Attalla | 4 | $5,933,000 |
| Glencoe | 2 | $1,970,000 |
| Altoona | 1 | $455,000 |
| Hokes Bluff | 1 | $30,000 |
| Piedmont | 1 | $15,000 |
Gadsden accounts for 12 approvals against 9 in Rainbow City. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Etowah County
How large is Etowah County?
- Land area535 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Alabama counties67th of 67
- Width, east to west36.2 mi
- Height, north to south24.8 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land193
- Establishments per square mile3.65
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.
Etowah County
Flood risk in Etowah County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Etowah County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 010077
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book13
- Of those, participating in the NFIP12
- NFIP participation rate92.3 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Etowah County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Etowah County (community 010077), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Etowah County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 92.3 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 Etowah 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 Etowah County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024103,105
- Households39,411
- Average household size2.62
- Median household income$54,563
- Median age41.7
Common questions
Etowah County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Etowah County, Alabama?
The Census Bureau estimates 103,207 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 103,105, in 39,411 households, ranking 13th of 67 Alabama counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Etowah County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.20 percent since the 2020 census base of 103,415, to 103,207 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,185 births against 1,612 deaths, with net migration of 460. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Etowah County?
$54,563. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $167,100, which is 3.1 times income, and median gross rent is $847 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Etowah County?
1,954 establishments, employing 28,155 people with an annual payroll of $1.18 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Etowah County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 6,994 jobs, 21.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 33,010 jobs at an average annual pay of $46,564, or $895 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Etowah County?
30 7(a) approvals totaling $18.8 m since FY2020, across 18 lenders, with a median approval of $303,500, plus 15 504 approvals worth $12.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Etowah County?
133 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $38.9 m. Multifamily was 12.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Etowah County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Etowah County come from?
The largest single origin is Marshall County, with 253 households. Arriving households report an average income of $55,897 against $44,376 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Etowah 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 Etowah 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.
Etowah County
Cities and places in Etowah.
23 Census places lie wholly or partly in Etowah County. All 23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gadsden | city | 33,374 | 12 | Wholly in this county |
| Boaz | city | 10,814 | None recorded | 20.7 percent here, 79.3 percent Marshall County |
| Rainbow City | city | 10,284 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Southside | city | 9,483 | None recorded | 96.9 percent here, 3.1 percent Calhoun County |
| Attalla | city | 5,775 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Glencoe | city | 5,353 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Hokes Bluff | city | 4,547 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Sardis City | town | 2,046 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Carlisle-Rockledge | CDP | 1,993 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Whitesboro | CDP | 1,918 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Coats Bend | CDP | 1,630 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Altoona | town | 1,252 | 1 | 77.7 percent here, 22.3 percent Blount County |
| Tidmore Bend | CDP | 1,192 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lookout Mountain | CDP | 1,120 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Gallant | CDP | 1,081 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| New Union | CDP | 996 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Walnut Grove | town | 896 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ballplay | CDP | 842 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ivalee | CDP | 809 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Reece City | town | 784 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Egypt | CDP | 616 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bristow Cove | CDP | 144 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ridgeville | town | 130 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 30 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Etowah County, the largest being Piedmont (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby