Lee County, Alabama: commercial real estate data.
Lee County, Alabama had an estimated 187,847 residents on July 1, 2024, up 7.7 percent since the 2020 census base of 174,341, across 608 square miles. County output reached $9.27 bn in 2024, 3,377 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 110 7(a) approvals worth $71.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Lee County
How many people live in Lee County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024181,134
- Households69,436
- Average household size2.61
- Median household income$65,824
- Median age34.0
- Median gross rent$1,058 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$262,200
- Home value to household income4.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher42.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree19.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over112,781
- Population under 1837,937
- Share under 1820.9 percent
- Population 65 and over24,021
- Share 65 and over13.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64119,176
- Civilian labor force88,396
- Unemployment rate3.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over61.7 percent
- Rank by population among Alabama counties8th of 67
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included380th of 3,222
Lee County is the 8th largest of 67 Alabama counties by population. A median home costs 4.0 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 20.9 percent against 13.3 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Lee County
Is Lee County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024187,847
- Census 2020 base population174,341
- Population change since the 2020 census base7.75 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20243,576
- Births, 20241,833
- Deaths, 20241,376
- Natural change, 2024457
- Net domestic migration, 20241,506
- Net international migration, 20241,597
- Total net migration, 20243,103
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20247,139
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents257th of 3,144
The county has grown 7.75 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Lee County
Where are people moving to Lee County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving5,354
- People arriving, from those returns10,015
- Tax returns filed by households leaving4,722
- Net household movement632
- Adjusted gross income arriving$379.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$74.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$70,793
- Average income of a leaving household$64,536
- Largest single originRussell County (576 households)
- Largest single destinationRussell County (480 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russell County | 576 | 1,171 | $30.2 m |
| Muscogee County | 408 | 779 | $22.1 m |
| Chambers County | 296 | 604 | $14.8 m |
| Montgomery County | 207 | 389 | $16.4 m |
| Tallapoosa County | 196 | 387 | $22.8 m |
| Jefferson County | 151 | 239 | $10.8 m |
| Macon County | 143 | 269 | $5.4 m |
| Elmore County | 88 | 164 | $5.9 m |
Households arriving report $6,257 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 Russell 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.
Lee County
What is the Lee County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$9.27 bn
- County GDP, 2023$8.86 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.7 percent
- GDP change over five years39.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Alabama areas BEA publishes8th of 67
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes468th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$51,205
Output grew 4.7 percent in the latest year and 39.3 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.
Lee County
Employment by industry in Lee County
- Covered employment, annual average66,643
- Establishments reporting4,362
- Average annual pay$53,394
- Average weekly wage$1,027
- Accommodation and food services, employment8,966
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$22,545
- Retail trade, employment8,018
- Retail trade, average annual pay$35,451
- Manufacturing, employment7,100
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$64,703
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment4,844
- Administrative and support and waste management services, average annual pay$31,448
- Health care and social assistance, employment4,669
- Construction, employment3,261
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 8,966 | 462 | $22,545 |
| Retail trade | 8,018 | 544 | $35,451 |
| Manufacturing | 7,100 | 202 | $64,703 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 4,844 | 283 | $31,448 |
| Health care and social assistance | 4,669 | 447 | $48,517 |
| Construction | 3,261 | 368 | $69,651 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3,144 | 121 | $55,205 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2,172 | 521 | $65,138 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 8,966 jobs, 13.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Lee County
How many businesses are in Lee County?
- Establishments, all industries3,377
- Employment at those establishments51,454
- Annual payroll$2.37 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents18.6
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.
Lee County
Building permits in Lee County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241,877
- Declared construction value permitted$435.0 m
- Single family units authorized1,716
- Multifamily units authorized161
- Multifamily share of units8.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$231,771
- Units authorized per 1,000 households27.0
Single-family homes are 91.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Lee County
SBA loans in Lee County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded110
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$71.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$652,667
- Median 7(a) approval$193,100
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,023,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,066
- Jobs per approval9.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active38
- Distinct industries receiving approvals69
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer19.1 percent
- Loans on real estate terms21
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter82
- Franchise loans12
- Franchise share of approvals10.9 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (8)
- Most active lenderNortheast Bank (14)
- 504 approvals recorded69
- 504 gross approval dollars$53.1 m
- Average 504 approval$769,145
- Median 504 approval$583,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval12.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved15.9
- Most active CDCFlorida Business Development Corporation (35)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$124.9 m
The average approval of $652,667 sits well above the median of $193,100, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 19.1 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.
Lee County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Lee County
Do SBA loans in Lee County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded17
- Paid in full13
- Charged off4
- Status: Paid in full13
- Status: Exempt from disclosure65
- Status: Charged off4
- Status: Cancelled20
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed8
Only 17 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.
Lee County
SBA lending by place in Lee County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending7
- Opelika, approvals55
- Auburn, approvals44
- Phenix City, approvals6
- Smiths Station, approvals2
- Salem, approvals1
- Waverly, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Opelika | 55 | $28,551,300 |
| Auburn | 44 | $31,484,700 |
| Phenix City | 6 | $4,637,200 |
| Smiths Station | 2 | $1,360,800 |
| Salem | 1 | $5,000,000 |
| Waverly | 1 | $383,400 |
| Valley | 1 | $376,000 |
Opelika accounts for 55 approvals against 44 in Auburn. 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.
Lee County
How large is Lee County?
- Land area608 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Alabama counties50th of 67
- Width, east to west40.6 mi
- Height, north to south23.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land298
- Establishments per square mile5.55
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.
Lee County
Flood risk in Lee County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Lee County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 010250
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book6
- Of those, participating in the NFIP6
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Lee 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 Lee County (community 010250), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Lee 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. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 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 Lee 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 Lee County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024181,134
- Households69,436
- Average household size2.61
- Median household income$65,824
- Median age34.0
Common questions
Lee County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Lee County, Alabama?
The Census Bureau estimates 187,847 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 181,134, in 69,436 households, ranking 8th of 67 Alabama counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Lee County's population growing?
The population has grown 7.75 percent since the 2020 census base of 174,341, to 187,847 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,833 births against 1,376 deaths, with net migration of 3,103. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Lee County?
$65,824. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $262,200, which is 4.0 times income, and median gross rent is $1,058 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Lee County?
3,377 establishments, employing 51,454 people with an annual payroll of $2.37 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 Lee County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 8,966 jobs, 13.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 66,643 jobs at an average annual pay of $53,394, or $1,027 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Lee County?
110 7(a) approvals totaling $71.8 m since FY2020, across 38 lenders, with a median approval of $193,100, plus 69 504 approvals worth $53.1 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Lee County?
1,877 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $435.0 m. Multifamily was 8.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Lee 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 Lee County come from?
The largest single origin is Russell County, with 576 households. Arriving households report an average income of $70,793 against $64,536 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Lee 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 Lee 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.
Lee County
Cities and places in Lee.
7 Census places lie wholly or partly in Lee County. All 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn | city | 80,594 | 44 | Wholly in this county |
| Phenix City | city | 38,499 | 6 | 14.3 percent here, 85.7 percent Russell County |
| Opelika | city | 32,820 | 55 | Wholly in this county |
| Smiths Station | city | 5,496 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Notasulga | town | 1,050 | None recorded | 15.8 percent here, 84.2 percent Macon County |
| Waverly | town | 315 | 1 | 37.0 percent here, 61.3 percent Chambers County |
| Loachapoka | town | 223 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 2 of the county's 110 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Lee County, the largest being Salem (1), Valley (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.