Market rankings · Alabama
Clothing and shoe stores in Alabama
Markets across Alabama ranked by the Groundwork market score for clothing and shoe stores, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 3,525
- 1,411 chain locations (40%)
- Official establishments
- 1,709
- −7.5% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $3.6B
- On clothing, shoes and related services
- Listings per 10k households
- 17.6
- 9% above the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $1M
- 21% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #47 of 51
- Market score 26 · Lower middle
A site report maps the clothing and shoe stores on map listings around any address in Alabama by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
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
As of September 2026, map listings count 3,525 clothing and shoe stores in Alabama. Of those, 1,411 are chain locations, or 40%, against 44% across the U.S. That comes to 17.6 for every 10,000 households, 9% above the U.S. rate of 16.2.
At $1,778 per household (13% below the U.S. average), households in Alabama spend about $3.6B a year on clothing, shoes and related services. That works out to $1M per store, 21% below the U.S. figure of $1.3M. That spending covers all clothing, shoes and related services, which clothing and shoe stores share with other businesses in the trade.
In 2023, official counts showed 1,709 businesses with payroll in Alabama classed as clothing and shoe stores, down 7.5% from 2019. That is one for every 1,169 households, against one for every 1,273 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count fell 12.2% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 26 SBA-backed loans worth $6.9M have gone to businesses classed as clothing and shoe stores in Alabama.
Among the 50 states and DC, Alabama ranks #47 for clothing and shoe stores, with a Groundwork market score of 26 (lower middle). Of the 13 scored metro areas in or partly in Alabama, the Huntsville metro area scores highest (65). Of the 13 scored small-town markets in or partly in Alabama, the Ozark area scores highest (66).
Every market in Alabama for clothing and shoe stores
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Alabama, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Huntsville, AL | 65 | 325 | 15.8 | $1.3M | +12.5% | #96 of 387 |
| 2Auburn-Opelika, AL | 51 | 99 | 12.9 | $1.4M | +7.1% | #200 of 387 |
| 3Decatur, AL | 48 | 99 | 15.8 | $1.1M | +2.5% | #217 of 387 |
| 4Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 33 | 269 | 27.3 | $705K | +14.8% | #305 of 387 |
| 5Tuscaloosa, AL | 29 | 184 | 17.4 | $1M | +2.9% | #319 of 387 |
| 6Birmingham, AL | 28 | 932 | 20.0 | $940K | +1.4% | #325 of 387 |
| 7Montgomery, AL | 27 | 254 | 16.8 | $1M | +0.9% | #330 of 387 |
| 8Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | 26 | 126 | 19.8 | $864K | +3.5% | #335 of 387 |
| 9Gadsden, AL | 25 | 69 | 17.5 | $915K | +0.4% | #339 of 387 |
| 10Dothan, AL | 21 | 131 | 21.5 | $782K | +3.4% | #357 of 387 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 19 | 223 | 17.5 | $977K | −1.3% | #361 of 387 |
| 11Mobile, AL | 19 | 309 | 19.1 | $896K | −0.7% | #362 of 387 |
| 12Anniston-Oxford, AL | 16 | 82 | 18.2 | $885K | −0.3% | #370 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Ozark, AL | 66 | 14 | 7.1 | $2.3M | +1.3% | #127 of 536 |
| 2Scottsboro, AL | 63 | 21 | 9.6 | $1.7M | +3.3% | #156 of 536 |
| 3Talladega-Sylacauga, AL | 54 | 34 | 8.9 | $1.8M | 0.0% | #235 of 536 |
| 4Alexander City, AL | 49 | 22 | 12.9 | $1.3M | −0.8% | #283 of 536 |
| LaGrange, GA-AL | 49 | 59 | 14.6 | $1.1M | +3.0% | #286 of 536 |
| 5Cullman, AL | 48 | 57 | 16.1 | $1.1M | +6.7% | #294 of 536 |
| 6Enterprise, AL | 48 | 35 | 16.7 | $1.1M | +6.3% | #295 of 536 |
| 7Fort Payne, AL | 44 | 37 | 14.1 | $1.1M | +3.4% | #322 of 536 |
| 8Russellville, AL | 44 | 21 | 17.6 | $897K | +1.1% | #325 of 536 |
| 9Albertville, AL | 37 | 85 | 23.3 | $750K | +6.0% | #389 of 536 |
| 10Troy, AL | 31 | 21 | 16.8 | $944K | +2.4% | #434 of 536 |
| 11Eufaula, AL-GA | 23 | 18 | 17.7 | $863K | −1.2% | #486 of 536 |
| 12Selma, AL | 21 | 25 | 15.7 | $899K | −7.9% | #504 of 536 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Limestone County, AL | 80 | 47 | 11.5 | $1.7M | +18.0% | #164 of 2,087 |
| 2Elmore County, AL | 74 | 27 | 8.2 | $2.3M | +4.2% | #261 of 2,087 |
| 3Shelby County, AL | 73 | 108 | 12.4 | $1.8M | +6.5% | #307 of 2,087 |
| 4St. Clair County, AL | 69 | 37 | 10.5 | $1.7M | +7.1% | #414 of 2,087 |
| 5Autauga County, AL | 65 | 21 | 9.2 | $2.1M | +5.1% | #521 of 2,087 |
| 6Lawrence County, AL | 62 | 14 | 10.3 | $1.7M | +2.3% | #617 of 2,087 |
| 7Dale County, AL | 61 | 14 | 7.1 | $2.3M | +1.3% | #632 of 2,087 |
| 8Blount County, AL | 61 | 21 | 9.5 | $1.8M | +1.8% | #644 of 2,087 |
| 9Chilton County, AL | 61 | 17 | 9.5 | $1.8M | +5.9% | #646 of 2,087 |
| 10Jackson County, AL | 58 | 21 | 9.6 | $1.7M | +3.3% | #741 of 2,087 |
| 11Bibb County, AL | 56 | 5 | 6.5 | $2.4M | +0.4% | #807 of 2,087 |
| 12Madison County, AL | 55 | 278 | 16.8 | $1.2M | +11.0% | #876 of 2,087 |
| 13Russell County, AL | 54 | 19 | 7.9 | $2M | −0.6% | #882 of 2,087 |
| 14Randolph County, AL | 54 | 9 | 9.7 | $1.7M | +4.8% | #884 of 2,087 |
| 15Cherokee County, AL | 54 | 11 | 10.8 | $1.5M | +5.8% | #891 of 2,087 |
| 16Winston County, AL | 53 | 8 | 8.5 | $1.9M | +1.4% | #920 of 2,087 |
| 17Chambers County, AL | 50 | 13 | 9.7 | $1.6M | −0.9% | #1,040 of 2,087 |
| 18Geneva County, AL | 50 | 12 | 11.3 | $1.4M | +3.2% | #1,049 of 2,087 |
| 19Lee County, AL | 49 | 95 | 13.7 | $1.3M | +8.6% | #1,095 of 2,087 |
| 20Cleburne County, AL | 47 | 7 | 11.7 | $1.4M | +6.0% | #1,155 of 2,087 |
| 21Talladega County, AL | 45 | 33 | 9.8 | $1.7M | +0.3% | #1,209 of 2,087 |
| 22Tallapoosa County, AL | 43 | 22 | 12.9 | $1.3M | −0.8% | #1,291 of 2,087 |
| 23Morgan County, AL | 43 | 85 | 17.3 | $1M | +2.6% | #1,306 of 2,087 |
| 24Cullman County, AL | 42 | 57 | 16.1 | $1.1M | +6.7% | #1,340 of 2,087 |
| 25Coffee County, AL | 41 | 35 | 16.7 | $1.1M | +6.3% | #1,372 of 2,087 |
Show all 67 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Crenshaw County, AL | 40 | 5 | 9.6 | $1.6M | 0.0% | #1,387 of 2,087 |
| 27DeKalb County, AL | 39 | 37 | 14.1 | $1.1M | +3.4% | #1,437 of 2,087 |
| 28Franklin County, AL | 39 | 21 | 17.6 | $897K | +1.1% | #1,453 of 2,087 |
| 29Baldwin County, AL | 37 | 269 | 27.3 | $705K | +14.8% | #1,523 of 2,087 |
| 30Pickens County, AL | 36 | 6 | 8.9 | $1.8M | −3.9% | #1,528 of 2,087 |
| 31Hale County, AL | 35 | 7 | 12.4 | $1.2M | +2.9% | #1,563 of 2,087 |
| 32Tuscaloosa County, AL | 34 | 171 | 19.0 | $939K | +3.8% | #1,602 of 2,087 |
| 33Colbert County, AL | 32 | 47 | 19.3 | $864K | +3.8% | #1,657 of 2,087 |
| 34Butler County, AL | 31 | 10 | 13.2 | $1.2M | −4.8% | #1,667 of 2,087 |
| 35Lauderdale County, AL | 31 | 79 | 20.1 | $865K | +3.3% | #1,683 of 2,087 |
| 36Marshall County, AL | 31 | 85 | 23.3 | $750K | +6.0% | #1,691 of 2,087 |
| 37Fayette County, AL | 30 | 9 | 14.4 | $1.1M | −2.8% | #1,709 of 2,087 |
| 38Marion County, AL | 30 | 20 | 18.8 | $829K | −0.3% | #1,721 of 2,087 |
| 39Marengo County, AL | 27 | 10 | 12.7 | $1.3M | −5.0% | #1,784 of 2,087 |
| 40Etowah County, AL | 26 | 69 | 17.5 | $915K | +0.4% | #1,811 of 2,087 |
| 41Covington County, AL | 26 | 33 | 22.5 | $726K | +1.2% | #1,824 of 2,087 |
| 42Pike County, AL | 25 | 21 | 16.8 | $944K | +2.4% | #1,841 of 2,087 |
| 43Mobile County, AL | 25 | 309 | 19.1 | $896K | −0.7% | #1,843 of 2,087 |
| 44Houston County, AL | 23 | 115 | 26.6 | $641K | +2.8% | #1,894 of 2,087 |
| 45Calhoun County, AL | 21 | 82 | 18.2 | $885K | −0.3% | #1,924 of 2,087 |
| 46Barbour County, AL | 21 | 17 | 18.6 | $823K | −1.4% | #1,927 of 2,087 |
| 47Jefferson County, AL | 21 | 680 | 25.2 | $738K | −1.3% | #1,930 of 2,087 |
| 48Dallas County, AL | 19 | 25 | 15.7 | $899K | −7.9% | #1,957 of 2,087 |
| 49Walker County, AL | 19 | 64 | 25.2 | $638K | 0.0% | #1,967 of 2,087 |
| 50Montgomery County, AL | 17 | 205 | 22.4 | $762K | −1.1% | #1,996 of 2,087 |
| 51Escambia County, AL | 15 | 27 | 21.1 | $721K | 0.0% | #2,025 of 2,087 |
| 52Lamar County, AL | 11 | 9 | 17.7 | $858K | −2.6% | #2,061 of 2,087 |
| 53Wilcox County, AL | 10 | 6 | 15.5 | $947K | −8.3% | #2,069 of 2,087 |
| 54Clarke County, AL | 6 | 24 | 28.5 | $561K | −4.2% | #2,078 of 2,087 |
| 55Monroe County, AL | 3 | 24 | 32.6 | $457K | −3.8% | #2,087 of 2,087 |
| Macon County, AL | Not scored | 4 | 5.5 | $2.8M | −6.8% | |
| Henry County, AL | Not scored | 4 | 5.7 | $3M | +7.1% | |
| Washington County, AL | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $10.7M | −3.3% | |
| Clay County, AL | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $9.3M | −0.1% | |
| Choctaw County, AL | Not scored | 4 | 7.6 | $2M | −5.7% | |
| Sumter County, AL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −5.0% | |
| Conecuh County, AL | Not scored | 4 | 9.1 | $1.7M | −5.7% | |
| Coosa County, AL | Not scored | 1 | 2.3 | $7M | −1.7% | |
| Bullock County, AL | Not scored | 1 | 2.7 | $5M | −4.5% | |
| Lowndes County, AL | Not scored | 1 | 2.3 | $6.3M | −9.0% | |
| Perry County, AL | Not scored | 2 | 5.8 | $2.3M | −12.2% | |
| Greene County, AL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −8.2% |
Markets with fewer than 5 clothing and shoe stores on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many clothing and shoe stores are in Alabama?
Alabama has 3,525 clothing and shoe stores on map listings as of September 2026. 1,411 of them (40%) are chain locations. The listings count clothing, shoe and accessory stores and boutiques. Official counts show 1,709 businesses with payroll classed as clothing and shoe stores in 2023, down 7.5% from 2019. Another 4,298 one-person businesses have no payroll, by official counts.
How much do households in Alabama spend on clothing, shoes and related services?
About $3.6B a year, or $1,778 per household. That is 13% below the U.S. average (an index of 87, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 3,525 clothing and shoe stores on map listings, it comes to $1M per store. The spending figure covers all clothing, shoes and related services, not only clothing and shoe stores. It is estimated from the incomes of the 1,997,247 households in Alabama and national spending patterns by income.
How does Alabama compare with the U.S. for clothing and shoe stores?
Alabama has 17.6 clothing and shoe stores per 10,000 households, 9% above the U.S. rate of 16.2. Spending per store is $1M, 21% below the U.S. figure of $1.3M. At the national ratio of clothing and shoe stores to household spending, Alabama would have about 2,796, against 3,525 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,169 households, against one for every 1,273 across the U.S. The official count fell 7.5% from 2019 to 2023, against −12.2% for the U.S.
Which market in Alabama has the highest market score for clothing and shoe stores?
Among 13 scored metro areas in or partly in Alabama, the Huntsville metro area scores highest, at 65 (upper middle). Among 13 scored small-town markets in or partly in Alabama, the Ozark area scores highest, at 66 (upper middle). Among 55 scored counties in Alabama, Limestone County scores highest, at 80 (high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
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. Alabama scores 26 for clothing and shoe stores (lower middle), #47 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Alabama. It maps the clothing and shoe stores 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.
Clothing and shoe stores in other states
All 51 states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Top markets for clothing and shoe stores across the U.S. · All business types in Alabama
Related business types in Alabama
- Clothing, shoes and laundry4,561 listings
- Laundromats267 listings
- Dry cleaners202 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in Alabama?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
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.