County profile · Alabama
DeKalb County, AL market data
How DeKalb County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 74,085
- +3.4% since 2020
- Households
- 26,181
- Median household income
- $51,204
- +26.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $152,700
- Jobs located here
- 22,918
- Highest market score
- 79
- Insurance agencies, #245 of 2,272 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in DeKalb County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of DeKalb County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
DeKalb County has an estimated 74,085 people and 26,181 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of DeKalb County grew 3.4%, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in DeKalb County is $51,204, 37% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 26.6%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in DeKalb County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 144, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (50).
Of the business types scored in DeKalb County, insurance agencies (79); landscaping and lawn care companies (71); and lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (70) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #245 of 2,272 scored counties.
DeKalb County is part of the Fort Payne area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for convenience stores (2.5 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (54% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in DeKalb County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares DeKalb County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 79 | #245 of 2,272 | 32 | 12.2 | $2.3M | 184 | 19 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 71 | #230 of 1,493 | 10 | 3.8 | $3.2M | 110 | 8 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 70 | #237 of 1,771 | 16 | 6.1 | $2M | 120 | 16 |
| Child care and preschools | 68 | #307 of 1,611 | 6 | 2.3 | $1.3M | 131 | 8 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 66 | #293 of 1,707 | 10 | 3.8 | $6.2M | 130 | 14 |
| Gas stations | 65 | #550 of 2,358 | 29 | 11.1 | $3M | 124 | 45 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 60 | #559 of 2,176 | 37 | 14.1 | Index only | 168 | 8 |
| Home repair trades | 59 | #620 of 2,057 | 22 | 8.4 | $2.8M | 116 | 33 |
| Pizza | 58 | #708 of 2,090 | 13 | 5.0 | $6.1M | 119 | 45 |
| Nail salons | 57 | #475 of 1,328 | 7 | 2.7 | $2.7M | 164 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 57 | #660 of 1,889 | 18 | 6.9 | $4.4M | 106 | 5 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 57 | #680 of 1,886 | 17 | 6.5 | $1.4M | 144 | 13 |
| Real estate | 57 | #721 of 2,229 | 46 | 17.6 | Index only | 170 | 16 |
| Electricians | 56 | #442 of 1,160 | 5 | 1.9 | $12.4M | 103 | 14 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 56 | #480 of 1,334 | 5 | 1.9 | $2.6M | 126 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | 55 | #586 of 1,490 | 8 | 3.1 | $3M | 126 | 7 |
| Pet businesses | 54 | #925 of 2,200 | 30 | 11.5 | $614K | 70 | 6 |
| Property management | 52 | #404 of 910 | 6 | 2.3 | Index only | 102 | 6 |
| Spas and skin care | 52 | #800 of 1,769 | 14 | 5.3 | $1.4M | 156 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 52 | #1,070 of 2,385 | 86 | 32.8 | $223K | 105 | 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | 51 | #569 of 1,177 | 7 | 2.7 | $8.8M | 105 | 5 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 51 | #1,146 of 2,405 | 204 | 77.9 | $386K | 104 | 87 |
| Physical therapy | 50 | #705 of 1,422 | 8 | 3.1 | $3M | 125 | 10 |
| Car washes and detailing | 50 | #727 of 1,451 | 12 | 4.6 | $2.1M | 85 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | 50 | #748 of 1,485 | 9 | 3.4 | $2M | 75 | 6 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 49 | #1,066 of 2,063 | 25 | 9.5 | $3.2M | 85 | 5 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 48 | #726 of 1,302 | 7 | 2.7 | $3.4M | 110 | 5 |
| Funeral homes | 48 | #772 of 1,472 | 12 | 4.6 | $323K | 48 | 4 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 46 | #1,371 of 2,405 | 119 | 45.5 | $662K | 100 | 35 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 45 | #1,292 of 2,088 | 19 | 7.3 | $671K | 101 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 45 | #1,340 of 2,222 | 30 | 11.5 | $2.6M | 86 | 45 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 44 | #1,341 of 2,210 | 42 | 16.0 | $969K | 110 | 15 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 43 | #821 of 1,327 | 10 | 3.8 | $2.6M | 83 | 9 |
| Auto repair and car care | 41 | #1,628 of 2,401 | 119 | 45.5 | $216K | 80 | 42 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 39 | #1,437 of 2,087 | 37 | 14.1 | $1.1M | 87 | 15 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 39 | #1,711 of 2,394 | 141 | 53.9 | $171K | 112 | 65 |
| Auto repair shops | 39 | #1,713 of 2,378 | 76 | 29.0 | $338K | 76 | 30 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 38 | #1,015 of 1,461 | 11 | 4.2 | $1.7M | 66 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 36 | #1,259 of 1,656 | 19 | 7.3 | $1.3M | 71 | 30 |
| Gyms | 35 | #1,380 of 1,792 | 13 | 5.0 | $981K | 75 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 33 | #1,937 of 2,339 | 50 | 19.1 | $383K | 89 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 31 | #1,787 of 2,261 | 52 | 19.9 | $2.7M | 34 | 7 |
| Tire shops | 30 | #1,250 of 1,530 | 19 | 7.3 | $1.4M | 54 | 10 |
| Barbershops | 29 | #1,117 of 1,356 | 14 | 5.3 | $1.4M | 73 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 24 | #1,797 of 2,070 | 28 | 10.7 | $5M | 53 | 17 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 23 | #2,158 of 2,402 | 90 | 34.4 | $1.5M | 46 | 24 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.5 | $8.1M | 79 | 5 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.5 | $4.6M | 102 | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.1 | Index only | 290 | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.1 | $8.6M | 62 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | $16.1M | Too few | 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $12.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in DeKalb County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $25.7M | $983 | 103 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $85.8M | $3,276 | 126 |
| Food away from home | $78.8M | $3,011 | 74 |
| Groceries | $139.1M | $5,315 | 84 |
| Personal care products and services | $19.2M | $732 | 73 |
| Child care and other personal services | $7.9M | $301 | 52 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $12.8M | $487 | 50 |
| Medical and dental services | $24.1M | $920 | 71 |
| Pets | $18.4M | $704 | 77 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $40.7M | $1,555 | 76 |
| Vehicle insurance | $73.9M | $2,823 | 144 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $61.9M | $2,365 | 78 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $32.2M | $1,232 | 87 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $339.1M | $12,951 | 78 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in DeKalb County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 74,085+3.4% since 2020
- Households
- 26,181
- Median age
- 40.0
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 78%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 777 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 93
- Median household income
- $51,204+26.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $68,235
- Median home value
- $152,700
- Jobs located here
- 22,918
- Daytime population
- 67,317Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in DeKalb County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of DeKalb County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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- Marshall County, AL99,748 people
- Etowah County, AL103,105 people
- Madison County, AL405,718 people
- Calhoun County, AL116,090 people
- Blount County, AL59,518 people
- Cleburne County, AL15,426 people
Questions
How fast is DeKalb County, AL growing?
Population estimates put DeKalb County at 74,085 people in 2025, up 3.4% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 26,181 households. Median household income rose 26.6% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in DeKalb County, AL spend?
Households in DeKalb County spend about $339.1M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $139.1M on groceries and $85.8M on gasoline and other fuels. Set against the U.S., households in DeKalb County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 144, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (50).
Which business types have the highest market scores in DeKalb County, AL?
The highest Groundwork market scores in DeKalb County are for insurance agencies (79); landscaping and lawn care companies (71); and lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (70). DeKalb County ranks #245 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
How does DeKalb County, AL compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in DeKalb County is $51,204 a year, 37% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $152,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, DeKalb County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for convenience stores (2.5 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (54% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 46 of the 56 business types have a score in DeKalb County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in DeKalb County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in DeKalb County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of DeKalb County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.