County profile · Alabama
Pickens County, AL market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Pickens County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 18,221
- −3.9% since 2020
- Households
- 6,764
- Median household income
- $46,274
- +16.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $123,900
- Jobs located here
- 3,396
- Highest market score
- 69
- Insurance agencies, #488 of 2,272 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Pickens County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Pickens 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
An estimated 18,221 people live in Pickens County, in 6,764 households. Population estimates put the population change in Pickens County from 2020 to 2025 at −3.9%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Pickens County is $46,274 a year, 43% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 16.1% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Pickens County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 142, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (51).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Pickens County are for insurance agencies (69), restaurants and cafes (60) and sit-down restaurants (54). Pickens County ranks #488 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
Pickens County is part of the Tuscaloosa metro area. For its number of households, Pickens County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (50% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (65% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Pickens County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Pickens 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 | 69 | #488 of 2,272 | 6 | 8.9 | $3.1M | 249 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 60 | #741 of 2,405 | 35 | 51.7 | $593K | 160 | 13 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 54 | #977 of 2,405 | 23 | 34.0 | $903K | 136 | 5 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 54 | #989 of 2,394 | 20 | 29.6 | $320K | 210 | 7 |
| Auto repair and car care | 52 | #1,125 of 2,401 | 22 | 32.5 | $298K | 111 | 8 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 48 | #1,213 of 2,222 | 7 | 10.3 | $3M | 97 | 6 |
| Auto repair shops | 48 | #1,264 of 2,378 | 12 | 17.7 | $545K | 123 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 47 | #1,312 of 2,358 | 11 | 16.3 | $2M | 83 | 9 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 44 | #1,330 of 2,210 | 6 | 8.9 | $1.8M | 203 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 37 | #1,574 of 2,261 | 5 | 7.4 | $7.2M | 91 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 37 | #1,700 of 2,402 | 13 | 19.2 | $2.8M | 82 | 4 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 36 | #1,528 of 2,087 | 6 | 8.9 | $1.8M | 141 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 34 | #1,893 of 2,339 | 10 | 14.8 | $499K | 116 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 32 | #2,054 of 2,385 | 18 | 26.6 | $277K | 130 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 29 | #1,809 of 2,088 | 5 | 7.4 | $675K | 102 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 24 | #1,494 of 1,656 | 6 | 8.9 | $1.1M | 60 | 7 |
| Spas and skin care | 23 | #1,659 of 1,769 | 5 | 7.4 | $997K | 114 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 19 | #1,902 of 2,070 | 8 | 11.8 | $4.5M | 48 | 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.9 | $843K | 65 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $2.2M | 71 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $396K | 58 | 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $2.1M | 89 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $2.2M | 87 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $10.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $2.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $3.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $10.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $3.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $8M | Too few | 7 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $8M | Too few | 7 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $3.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $2.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pizza | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $10.4M | Too few | 6 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $8.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $3.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $8.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $4.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Real estate | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $4.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Electricians | 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 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 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 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | 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 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Pickens 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 | $6.5M | $968 | 101 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $21.9M | $3,233 | 125 |
| Food away from home | $20.8M | $3,070 | 75 |
| Groceries | $36M | $5,324 | 84 |
| Personal care products and services | $5M | $737 | 73 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.2M | $319 | 55 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $3.4M | $499 | 51 |
| Medical and dental services | $6.4M | $948 | 74 |
| Pets | $4.9M | $724 | 80 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $10.7M | $1,585 | 77 |
| Vehicle insurance | $18.7M | $2,771 | 142 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $15.9M | $2,354 | 78 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $8.4M | $1,243 | 88 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $87.6M | $12,958 | 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 Pickens County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 18,221−3.9% since 2020
- Households
- 6,764
- Median age
- 42.3
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 76%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 881 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 21
- Median household income
- $46,274+16.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $68,757
- Median home value
- $123,900
- Jobs located here
- 3,396
- Daytime population
- 14,114Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Pickens 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 Pickens County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Alabama 8
- Lamar County, AL13,693 people
- Tuscaloosa County, AL237,552 people
- Greene County, AL7,424 people
- Fayette County, AL16,053 people
- Hale County, AL14,829 people
- Sumter County, AL11,878 people
- Bibb County, AL22,130 people
- Marion County, AL29,184 people
Questions
How fast is Pickens County, AL growing?
Population estimates put Pickens County at 18,221 people in 2025, down 3.9% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 6,764 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 16.1%, before inflation.
How much do households in Pickens County, AL spend?
Households in Pickens County spend about $87.6M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $36M on groceries and $21.9M on gasoline and other fuels. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Pickens County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 142, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (51).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Pickens County, AL?
Of the business types scored in Pickens County, insurance agencies (69), restaurants and cafes (60) and sit-down restaurants (54) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #488 of 2,272 scored counties.
How does Pickens County, AL compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Pickens County is $46,274, 43% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 3.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $123,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (50% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (65% 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. 18 of the 56 business types have a score in Pickens 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 Pickens 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 Pickens 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 Pickens 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.