Alabama · GEOID 01087

Macon County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 18,691 · 9,653 housing units

Median household income

$43,707

State $65,481

Median home value

$102,000

State $213,194

Median gross rent

$734

State $1,018

Homeownership rate

61.5%

State 70.2%

Renter cost-burden rate

51.8%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

20.9%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

3.2%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

5.6%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

25.0%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.33

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Macon County	Alabama
Population	18,691	5,086,768
Population density (per sq. mi.)	30.71	—
Median household income	$43,707	$65,481
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$55,500	—
Households	7,237	—
Average household size	2.22 people	—
Owner-occupied	61.5%	70.2%
Renter-occupied	38.5%	29.8%
Race	17.2% White · 77.6% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Macon County compared with Alabama.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

21.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 28.4%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	21.1%	$32,689	$817	$90,660
1 earner	42.2%	$44,167	$1,104	$133,385
2 earners	29.3%	$92,708	$2,318	$314,071
3+ earners	7.4%	$115,125	$2,878	$397,515

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

7,237

Average size: 2.22 people

Households with children

1,383

19.1% of households

Per-capita income

$26,341

Poverty rate: 23.7%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

61.5% owner-occupied vs. state average 70.2%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 63.6% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 17.0%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

51.6% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,979.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $102,000.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $734.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 2,416 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 6.0% · For rent 7.3% · Seasonal 10.1% · Other 52.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

37.5% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 62.5% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

2.5%

244 units of 9,653 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

13.1%

1,267 units of 9,653 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$34,966

100% MHI$43,707

120% MHI$52,448

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Macon County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$41,550	$47,500	$59,350
100% AMI	$38,850	$44,400	$55,500
120% AMI	$46,600	$53,300	$66,600

HUD FMR Area: Macon County, AL HUD Metro FMR Area. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

51.8% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (30.9% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

20.9% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Macon County.

Covered employment

2,959

Across 10 sectors

Establishments

236

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$61,712

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	1,137	$72,716	$239,654	+$137,654	$1,818
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	677	$75,082	$248,461	+$146,461	$1,877
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	424	$45,714	$139,144	+$37,144	$1,143
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	362	$25,679	$64,566	−$37,434	$642
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	88	$86,001	$289,105	+$187,105	$2,150
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	81	$35,622	$101,578	−$422	$891
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	65	$67,476	$220,149	+$118,149	$1,687
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	63	$53,603	$168,509	+$66,509	$1,340
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	36	$17,966	$35,856	−$66,144	$449
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	26	$59,784	$191,517	+$89,517	$1,495

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	871	$82,957	$277,775	+$175,775	$2,074
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	677	$75,082	$248,461	+$146,461	$1,877
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	194	$16,008	$28,568	−$73,432	$400
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	136	$29,478	$78,708	−$23,292	$737
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	92	$21,542	$49,167	−$52,833	$539
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	81	$35,622	$101,578	−$422	$891
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	79	$16,682	$31,077	−$70,923	$417
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	61	$18,925	$39,426	−$62,574	$473
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	48	$59,837	$191,714	+$89,714	$1,496
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	36	$17,966	$35,856	−$66,144	$449
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	35	$60,368	$193,691	+$91,691	$1,509
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	29	$54,811	$173,006	+$71,006	$1,370
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	26	$59,784	$191,517	+$89,517	$1,495
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	26	$38,975	$114,059	+$12,059	$974
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	19	$49,625	$153,702	+$51,702	$1,241
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	18	$36,834	$106,089	+$4,089	$921
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	8	$34,671	$98,038	−$3,962	$867
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	4	$63,188	$204,188	+$102,188	$1,580

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	2,370	560	31%	$12.42	$25,840	$65,166	$646
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	1,310	(190)	(13%)	$12.91	$26,860	$68,963	$672
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	1,820	10	1%	$13.08	$27,210	$70,265	$680
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	2,300	80	4%	$15.59	$32,430	$89,696	$811
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	970	(70)	(7%)	$15.83	$32,920	$91,520	$823
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	550	(240)	(30%)	$17.10	$35,580	$101,421	$890
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	620	(130)	(17%)	$17.62	$36,640	$105,367	$916
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	670	340	103%	$17.82	$37,060	$106,930	$927
Tellers SOC 43-3071	180	(70)	(28%)	$18.40	$38,270	$111,434	$957
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	230	—	—	$20.83	$43,330	$130,269	$1,083
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	740	370	100%	$20.86	$43,380	$130,456	$1,085
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	200	(30)	(13%)	$23.70	$49,290	$152,455	$1,232
Electricians SOC 47-2111	230	30	15%	$25.79	$53,650	$168,684	$1,341
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	200	120	150%	$26.02	$54,120	$170,433	$1,353
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	1,090	540	98%	$26.22	$54,540	$171,997	$1,364
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	550	100	22%	—	$57,410	$182,680	$1,435
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	410	240	141%	$28.15	$58,550	$186,923	$1,464
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	1,430	540	61%	$40.81	$84,890	$284,970	$2,122

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 01087 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.