Market rankings · Alabama
Pet businesses in Alabama
Markets across Alabama ranked by the Groundwork market score for pet businesses, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 1,975
- 315 chain locations (16%)
- Official establishments
- 974
- +16.5% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $1.7B
- On pets
- Listings per 10k households
- 9.9
- 5% below the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $843K
- 4% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #14 of 51
- Market score 61 · Upper middle
A site report maps the pet businesses 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
Map listings as of September 2026 show 1,975 pet businesses in Alabama. Of those, 315 are chain locations, or 16%, against 17% across the U.S. That comes to 9.9 for every 10,000 households, 5% below the U.S. rate of 10.4.
At $834 per household (8% below the U.S. average), households in Alabama spend about $1.7B a year on pets. That is about $843K of household spending for each business on map listings, 4% below the U.S. figure of $878K.
In 2023, official counts showed 974 businesses with payroll in Alabama classed as pet care, veterinarians and pet stores, up 16.5% from 2019. That is one for every 2,051 households, against one for every 1,852 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 11.4% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 35 SBA-backed loans worth $17.3M have gone to businesses classed as pet care, veterinarians and pet stores in Alabama.
Among the 50 states and DC, Alabama ranks #14 for pet businesses, with a Groundwork market score of 61 (upper middle). Of the 13 scored metro areas in or partly in Alabama, the Tuscaloosa metro area scores highest (74). Of the 13 scored small-town markets in or partly in Alabama, the Enterprise area scores highest (76).
Every market in Alabama for pet businesses
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Tuscaloosa, AL | 74 | 69 | 6.5 | $1.2M | +2.9% | #33 of 387 |
| 2Montgomery, AL | 67 | 118 | 7.8 | $1.1M | +0.9% | #63 of 387 |
| 3Huntsville, AL | 65 | 242 | 11.7 | $840K | +12.5% | #86 of 387 |
| 4Birmingham, AL | 63 | 418 | 9.0 | $995K | +1.4% | #95 of 387 |
| 5Auburn-Opelika, AL | 61 | 71 | 9.3 | $895K | +7.1% | #105 of 387 |
| 6Mobile, AL | 54 | 133 | 8.2 | $967K | −0.7% | #162 of 387 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 50 | 118 | 9.3 | $853K | −1.3% | #195 of 387 |
| 7Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | 49 | 68 | 10.7 | $748K | +3.5% | #200 of 387 |
| 8Decatur, AL | 49 | 73 | 11.6 | $727K | +2.5% | #202 of 387 |
| 9Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 46 | 130 | 13.2 | $698K | +14.8% | #226 of 387 |
| 10Gadsden, AL | 42 | 42 | 10.7 | $687K | +0.4% | #260 of 387 |
| 11Anniston-Oxford, AL | 34 | 57 | 12.7 | $582K | −0.3% | #315 of 387 |
| 12Dothan, AL | 29 | 71 | 11.6 | $668K | +3.4% | #341 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Enterprise, AL | 76 | 20 | 9.5 | $886K | +6.3% | #25 of 527 |
| 2Ozark, AL | 75 | 13 | 6.6 | $1.1M | +1.3% | #28 of 527 |
| LaGrange, GA-AL | 74 | 39 | 9.7 | $784K | +3.0% | #37 of 527 |
| 3Talladega-Sylacauga, AL | 72 | 27 | 7.1 | $1M | 0.0% | #45 of 527 |
| 4Troy, AL | 62 | 12 | 9.6 | $749K | +2.4% | #128 of 527 |
| 5Selma, AL | 60 | 7 | 4.4 | $1.4M | −7.9% | #142 of 527 |
| 6Cullman, AL | 59 | 49 | 13.9 | $583K | +6.7% | #157 of 527 |
| 7Fort Payne, AL | 58 | 30 | 11.5 | $614K | +3.4% | #166 of 527 |
| 8Russellville, AL | 57 | 12 | 10.0 | $721K | +1.1% | #175 of 527 |
| 9Scottsboro, AL | 57 | 27 | 12.4 | $589K | +3.3% | #185 of 527 |
| 10Eufaula, AL-GA | 53 | 7 | 6.9 | $995K | −1.2% | #230 of 527 |
| 11Albertville, AL | 52 | 53 | 14.5 | $563K | +6.0% | #260 of 527 |
| 12Alexander City, AL | 40 | 22 | 12.9 | $593K | −0.8% | #384 of 527 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Limestone County, AL | 85 | 47 | 11.5 | $841K | +18.0% | #34 of 2,200 |
| 2Autauga County, AL | 82 | 23 | 10.0 | $895K | +5.1% | #54 of 2,200 |
| 3Tuscaloosa County, AL | 79 | 62 | 6.9 | $1.2M | +3.8% | #82 of 2,200 |
| 4Blount County, AL | 75 | 16 | 7.2 | $1.1M | +1.8% | #157 of 2,200 |
| 5Dale County, AL | 71 | 13 | 6.6 | $1.1M | +1.3% | #241 of 2,200 |
| 6Coffee County, AL | 71 | 20 | 9.5 | $886K | +6.3% | #254 of 2,200 |
| 7Elmore County, AL | 70 | 34 | 10.3 | $861K | +4.2% | #286 of 2,200 |
| 8Madison County, AL | 69 | 195 | 11.8 | $840K | +11.0% | #324 of 2,200 |
| 9Chilton County, AL | 68 | 20 | 11.2 | $709K | +5.9% | #371 of 2,200 |
| 10Lee County, AL | 67 | 67 | 9.6 | $874K | +8.6% | #390 of 2,200 |
| 11Montgomery County, AL | 66 | 58 | 6.3 | $1.2M | −1.1% | #416 of 2,200 |
| 12Jefferson County, AL | 66 | 201 | 7.4 | $1.2M | −1.3% | #420 of 2,200 |
| 13Talladega County, AL | 66 | 26 | 7.7 | $964K | +0.3% | #425 of 2,200 |
| 14Henry County, AL | 65 | 6 | 8.5 | $928K | +7.1% | #468 of 2,200 |
| 15Shelby County, AL | 64 | 112 | 12.9 | $828K | +6.5% | #512 of 2,200 |
| 16St. Clair County, AL | 64 | 40 | 11.4 | $759K | +7.1% | #521 of 2,200 |
| 17Colbert County, AL | 62 | 23 | 9.5 | $821K | +3.8% | #581 of 2,200 |
| 18Lawrence County, AL | 60 | 15 | 11.0 | $727K | +2.3% | #670 of 2,200 |
| 19Dallas County, AL | 59 | 7 | 4.4 | $1.4M | −7.9% | #678 of 2,200 |
| 20Mobile County, AL | 59 | 133 | 8.2 | $967K | −0.7% | #684 of 2,200 |
| 21Morgan County, AL | 59 | 58 | 11.8 | $727K | +2.6% | #698 of 2,200 |
| 22Lauderdale County, AL | 59 | 45 | 11.5 | $711K | +3.3% | #701 of 2,200 |
| 23Pike County, AL | 58 | 12 | 9.6 | $749K | +2.4% | #733 of 2,200 |
| 24Baldwin County, AL | 57 | 130 | 13.2 | $698K | +14.8% | #786 of 2,200 |
| 25Cullman County, AL | 55 | 49 | 13.9 | $583K | +6.7% | #883 of 2,200 |
Show all 67 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26DeKalb County, AL | 54 | 30 | 11.5 | $614K | +3.4% | #925 of 2,200 |
| 27Walker County, AL | 53 | 23 | 9.1 | $817K | 0.0% | #941 of 2,200 |
| 28Franklin County, AL | 53 | 12 | 10.0 | $721K | +1.1% | #955 of 2,200 |
| 29Bibb County, AL | 52 | 6 | 7.8 | $915K | +0.4% | #982 of 2,200 |
| 30Jackson County, AL | 52 | 27 | 12.4 | $589K | +3.3% | #1,020 of 2,200 |
| 31Etowah County, AL | 51 | 42 | 10.7 | $687K | +0.4% | #1,054 of 2,200 |
| 32Marion County, AL | 50 | 8 | 7.5 | $938K | −0.3% | #1,080 of 2,200 |
| 33Marshall County, AL | 49 | 53 | 14.5 | $563K | +6.0% | #1,173 of 2,200 |
| 34Escambia County, AL | 46 | 14 | 10.9 | $625K | 0.0% | #1,286 of 2,200 |
| 35Randolph County, AL | 46 | 15 | 16.2 | $457K | +4.8% | #1,306 of 2,200 |
| 36Barbour County, AL | 45 | 7 | 7.7 | $900K | −1.4% | #1,312 of 2,200 |
| 37Houston County, AL | 45 | 50 | 11.5 | $684K | +2.8% | #1,327 of 2,200 |
| 38Calhoun County, AL | 42 | 57 | 12.7 | $582K | −0.3% | #1,442 of 2,200 |
| 39Chambers County, AL | 41 | 12 | 8.9 | $789K | −0.9% | #1,463 of 2,200 |
| 40Crenshaw County, AL | 40 | 5 | 9.6 | $737K | 0.0% | #1,514 of 2,200 |
| 41Russell County, AL | 39 | 28 | 11.7 | $607K | −0.6% | #1,563 of 2,200 |
| 42Covington County, AL | 39 | 20 | 13.7 | $549K | +1.2% | #1,572 of 2,200 |
| 43Geneva County, AL | 39 | 15 | 14.1 | $510K | +3.2% | #1,576 of 2,200 |
| 44Clarke County, AL | 38 | 10 | 11.9 | $611K | −4.2% | #1,600 of 2,200 |
| 45Tallapoosa County, AL | 36 | 22 | 12.9 | $593K | −0.8% | #1,672 of 2,200 |
| 46Fayette County, AL | 35 | 7 | 11.2 | $640K | −2.8% | #1,713 of 2,200 |
| 47Winston County, AL | 28 | 14 | 14.9 | $495K | +1.4% | #1,930 of 2,200 |
| 48Cherokee County, AL | 28 | 20 | 19.6 | $386K | +5.8% | #1,946 of 2,200 |
| 49Monroe County, AL | 16 | 9 | 12.2 | $543K | −3.8% | #2,152 of 2,200 |
| 50Butler County, AL | 14 | 10 | 13.2 | $524K | −4.8% | #2,172 of 2,200 |
| 51Conecuh County, AL | 10 | 6 | 13.6 | $481K | −5.7% | #2,188 of 2,200 |
| Marengo County, AL | Not scored | 2 | 2.5 | $2.9M | −5.0% | |
| Pickens County, AL | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $2.4M | −3.9% | |
| Macon County, AL | Not scored | 4 | 5.5 | $1.2M | −6.8% | |
| Cleburne County, AL | Not scored | 2 | 3.3 | $2.2M | +6.0% | |
| Washington County, AL | Not scored | 2 | 3.4 | $2.5M | −3.3% | |
| Hale County, AL | Not scored | 3 | 5.3 | $1.3M | +2.9% | |
| Clay County, AL | Not scored | 4 | 6.9 | $1.1M | −0.1% | |
| Lamar County, AL | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $1.7M | −2.6% | |
| Choctaw County, AL | Not scored | 1 | 1.9 | $3.7M | −5.7% | |
| Sumter County, AL | Not scored | 3 | 6.2 | $985K | −5.0% | |
| Coosa County, AL | Not scored | 1 | 2.3 | $3.2M | −1.7% | |
| Wilcox County, AL | Not scored | 3 | 7.8 | $831K | −8.3% | |
| Bullock County, AL | Not scored | 4 | 10.8 | $521K | −4.5% | |
| Lowndes County, AL | Not scored | 3 | 7.0 | $917K | −9.0% | |
| Perry County, AL | Not scored | 3 | 8.7 | $634K | −12.2% | |
| Greene County, AL | Not scored | 2 | 6.2 | $958K | −8.2% |
Markets with fewer than 5 pet businesses on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many pet businesses are in Alabama?
There are 1,975 pet businesses on map listings in Alabama as of September 2026. 315 of them (16%) are chain locations. The listings count vets, groomers, boarding and pet stores. Official counts show 974 businesses with payroll classed as pet care, veterinarians and pet stores in 2023, up 16.5% from 2019. Official counts list 1,822 one-person businesses without payroll.
How much do households in Alabama spend on pets?
About $1.7B a year, or $834 per household. That is 8% below the U.S. average (an index of 92, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 1,975 pet businesses on map listings, it comes to $843K per business. 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 pet businesses?
Alabama has 9.9 pet businesses per 10,000 households, 5% below the U.S. rate of 10.4. Spending per business is $843K, 4% below the U.S. figure of $878K. At the national ratio of pet businesses to household spending, Alabama would have about 1,896, against 1,975 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 2,051 households, against one for every 1,852 across the U.S. The official count rose 16.5% from 2019 to 2023, against +11.4% for the U.S.
Which market in Alabama has the highest market score for pet businesses?
Among 13 scored metro areas in or partly in Alabama, the Tuscaloosa metro area scores highest, at 74 (upper middle). Among 13 scored small-town markets in or partly in Alabama, the Enterprise area scores highest, at 76 (high). Among 51 scored counties in Alabama, Limestone County scores highest, at 85 (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 61 for pet businesses (upper middle), #14 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 pet businesses 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.
Pet businesses in other states
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Top markets for pet businesses across the U.S. · All business types in Alabama
Related business types in Alabama
- Veterinarians733 listings
- Pet grooming and boarding672 listings
- Pet stores289 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.