Americans on the whole were doing well financially heading into 2020, with major markers like unemployment reaching 50-year lows. The pandemic changed all that: During the second quarter of the 2020 fiscal year, our nation's real GDP fell by a whopping 31.4%, a number that hasn't been seen since the Great Depression. Since then the GDP has recovered, the first quarter of 2022 was 11% above the fourth quarter of 2019.
While GDP has recovered since the height of the pandemic, wage growth has not kept pace with inflation. In 2021 average hourly wages increased 4.7% while there was 7% inflation, meaning the worker's purchasing power dropped by 2.4%.
Where you live can make a big impact on your financial situation. The highest earning county in the U.S. earns $147,111, while the lowest earns $22,292. Stacker compiled a list of the lowest-earning counties in Alabama using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the Census' 2020 5-year estimate median household income.
You may also like: Cities with the most UFO sightings in Alabama
1 / 50
#50. Calhoun County
- Median household income: $50,128
--- 3.7% below state average, 22.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.8%
--- #1,821 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.1%
--- #1,223 highest among all counties nationwide
2 / 50
#49. Mobile County
- Median household income: $49,625
--- 4.6% below state average, 23.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.0%
--- #1,607 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.2%
--- #1,166 highest among all counties nationwide
3 / 50
#48. Houston County
- Median household income: $49,069
--- 5.7% below state average, 24.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.9%
--- #1,466 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.9%
--- #1,108 highest among all counties nationwide
4 / 50
#47. Blount County
- Median household income: $48,922
--- 6.0% below state average, 24.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.0%
--- #1,607 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.7%
--- #1,090 highest among all counties nationwide
5 / 50
#46. Lauderdale County
- Median household income: $48,428
--- 6.9% below state average, 25.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.6%
--- #1,855 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.8%
--- #1,043 highest among all counties nationwide
You may also like: Best colleges in Alabama
6 / 50
#45. Cullman County
- Median household income: $48,388
--- 7.0% below state average, 25.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.0%
--- #2,143 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.4%
--- #1,039 highest among all counties nationwide
7 / 50
#44. Tallapoosa County
- Median household income: $48,160
--- 7.4% below state average, 25.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.7%
--- #2,389 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.3%
--- #1,016 highest among all counties nationwide
8 / 50
#43. Colbert County
- Median household income: $47,962
--- 7.8% below state average, 26.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.2%
--- #2,294 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.8%
--- #995 highest among all counties nationwide
9 / 50
#42. Lawrence County
- Median household income: $47,125
--- 9.4% below state average, 27.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.6%
--- #1,855 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.9%
--- #926 highest among all counties nationwide
10 / 50
#41. Cleburne County
- Median household income: $46,320
--- 11.0% below state average, 28.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.4%
--- #2,457 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.9%
--- #845 highest among all counties nationwide
You may also like: See how popular pumpkin spice is in Alabama
11 / 50
#40. Walker County
- Median household income: $45,833
--- 11.9% below state average, 29.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.0%
--- #2,330 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.1%
--- #802 highest among all counties nationwide
12 / 50
#39. Dale County
- Median household income: $45,644
--- 12.3% below state average, 29.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.9%
--- #2,358 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.1%
--- #785 highest among all counties nationwide
13 / 50
#38. Randolph County
- Median household income: $45,141
--- 13.2% below state average, 30.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.4%
--- #2,072 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.7%
--- #746 highest among all counties nationwide
14 / 50
#37. Etowah County
- Median household income: $44,934
--- 13.6% below state average, 30.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.0%
--- #2,143 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.2%
--- #725 highest among all counties nationwide
15 / 50
#36. Butler County
- Median household income: $44,850
--- 13.8% below state average, 31.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.6%
--- #1,674 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.7%
--- #718 highest among all counties nationwide
You may also like: Coldest Januarys in Alabama since 1895
16 / 50
#35. Talladega County
- Median household income: $43,969
--- 15.5% below state average, 32.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.9%
--- #2,347 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.1%
--- #646 highest among all counties nationwide
17 / 50
#34. Chambers County
- Median household income: $43,875
--- 15.7% below state average, 32.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.5%
--- #2,715 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.5%
--- #638 highest among all counties nationwide
18 / 50
#33. Coosa County
- Median household income: $43,571
--- 16.3% below state average, 33.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.5%
--- #2,443 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.6%
--- #613 highest among all counties nationwide
19 / 50
#32. Lamar County
- Median household income: $42,688
--- 18.0% below state average, 34.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.8%
--- #2,179 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 19.4%
--- #548 highest among all counties nationwide
20 / 50
#31. Clay County
- Median household income: $42,678
--- 18.0% below state average, 34.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.7%
--- #2,200 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.3%
--- #547 highest among all counties nationwide
You may also like: National forests with campgrounds open year-round in Alabama
21 / 50
#30. Crenshaw County
- Median household income: $42,611
--- 18.1% below state average, 34.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.8%
--- #2,179 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.6%
--- #541 highest among all counties nationwide
22 / 50
#29. Jackson County
- Median household income: $42,578
--- 18.2% below state average, 34.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.7%
--- #2,395 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.1%
--- #538 highest among all counties nationwide
23 / 50
#28. Covington County
- Median household income: $42,566
--- 18.2% below state average, 34.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.5%
--- #2,430 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.3%
--- #537 highest among all counties nationwide
24 / 50
#27. Cherokee County
- Median household income: $42,509
--- 18.3% below state average, 34.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.3%
--- #2,267 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.7%
--- #533 highest among all counties nationwide
25 / 50
#26. Washington County
26 / 50
#25. DeKalb County
- Median household income: $42,267
--- 18.8% below state average, 35.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.8%
--- #2,670 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.6%
--- #515 highest among all counties nationwide
27 / 50
#24. Russell County
- Median household income: $42,208
--- 18.9% below state average, 35.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.6%
--- #2,565 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.4%
--- #509 highest among all counties nationwide
28 / 50
#23. Geneva County
- Median household income: $41,569
--- 20.1% below state average, 36.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.0%
--- #2,504 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.6%
--- #455 highest among all counties nationwide
29 / 50
#22. Fayette County
- Median household income: $41,469
--- 20.3% below state average, 36.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.5%
--- #2,922 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.0%
--- #445 highest among all counties nationwide
30 / 50
#21. Franklin County
- Median household income: $41,174
--- 20.9% below state average, 36.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.3%
--- #2,829 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.6%
--- #431 highest among all counties nationwide
You may also like: How Alabama ranks for most motorcycle fatalities
31 / 50
#20. Winston County
- Median household income: $40,991
--- 21.2% below state average, 36.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.2%
--- #2,733 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.2%
--- #416 highest among all counties nationwide
32 / 50
#19. Marion County
- Median household income: $40,978
--- 21.2% below state average, 37.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.9%
--- #2,887 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.6%
--- #415 highest among all counties nationwide
33 / 50
#18. Pickens County
- Median household income: $40,362
--- 22.4% below state average, 37.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.7%
--- #2,200 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 19.0%
--- #375 highest among all counties nationwide
34 / 50
#17. Pike County
- Median household income: $39,218
--- 24.6% below state average, 39.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.6%
--- #1,855 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 19.6%
--- #313 highest among all counties nationwide
35 / 50
#16. Clarke County
- Median household income: $37,345
--- 28.2% below state average, 42.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.9%
--- #2,165 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 22.1%
--- #228 highest among all counties nationwide
You may also like: Hottest Novembers in Alabama since 1895
36 / 50
#15. Choctaw County
- Median household income: $36,634
--- 29.6% below state average, 43.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.7%
--- #2,389 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.7%
--- #196 highest among all counties nationwide
37 / 50
#14. Escambia County
- Median household income: $35,558
--- 31.7% below state average, 45.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.7%
--- #2,981 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 22.7%
--- #162 highest among all counties nationwide
38 / 50
#13. Macon County
- Median household income: $35,450
--- 31.9% below state average, 45.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.9%
--- #2,775 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 20.9%
--- #158 highest among all counties nationwide
39 / 50
#12. Conecuh County
- Median household income: $35,444
--- 31.9% below state average, 45.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.7%
--- #2,983 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.5%
--- #157 highest among all counties nationwide
40 / 50
#11. Wilcox County
41 / 50
#10. Barbour County
- Median household income: $34,990
--- 32.8% below state average, 46.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.9%
--- #2,658 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 22.2%
--- #139 highest among all counties nationwide
42 / 50
#9. Bullock County
- Median household income: $33,866
--- 34.9% below state average, 47.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.5%
--- #2,226 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 28.0%
--- #114 highest among all counties nationwide
43 / 50
#8. Lowndes County
- Median household income: $33,634
--- 35.4% below state average, 48.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.5%
--- #2,807 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 22.7%
--- #108 highest among all counties nationwide
44 / 50
#7. Dallas County
- Median household income: $33,317
--- 36.0% below state average, 48.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.2%
--- #2,956 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 23.9%
--- #101 highest among all counties nationwide
45 / 50
#6. Marengo County
- Median household income: $33,029
--- 36.5% below state average, 49.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.2%
--- #2,294 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 24.3%
--- #96 highest among all counties nationwide
You may also like: The 20 most affordable cities in Alabama to buy a house
46 / 50
#5. Monroe County
- Median household income: $31,969
--- 38.6% below state average, 50.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.2%
--- #2,733 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 27.3%
--- #70 highest among all counties nationwide
47 / 50
#4. Hale County
- Median household income: $30,793
--- 40.8% below state average, 52.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.0%
--- #2,643 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 27.3%
--- #51 highest among all counties nationwide
48 / 50
#3. Greene County
- Median household income: $26,688
--- 48.7% below state average, 58.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 6.8%
--- #3,118 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 28.7%
--- #16 highest among all counties nationwide
49 / 50
#2. Sumter County
- Median household income: $26,150
--- 49.7% below state average, 59.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 8.1%
--- #3,088 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 26.5%
--- #15 highest among all counties nationwide
