City profile · Alabama · Census ACS 2023

Cowarts, AL

Cowarts's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

2,189
Residents
$57,734
Median income
$176,100
Median home
$936
Median rent (state)
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State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Cowarts.

Place dossier plate

Sheet AL-COWARTS-AL · Cowarts, AL 2,189 pop · income 32nd pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-MID · COL-BELOW · SAFE-UNK · RANK-LOWER · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-LOW · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 2,189
  • INC-MID $57,734
  • COL-BELOW 88.8
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-LOWER 32nd
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Theresa
  • HOME-LOW $176,100
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Theresa, NY (+ $4 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Cowarts

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Cowarts on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Cowarts on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 2,189.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $57,734. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Cowarts - the verdict

Nationally, Cowarts sits in the 32nd percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

32nd
percentile, household income
35th
percentile, home value
1st
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Cowarts, AL

2,189 people live in Cowarts, Alabama - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Cowarts households earn a median of $57,734 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.6%. Typical homes in Cowarts are valued around $176,100, and the median resident age is 38.3 years. About 11.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 47.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 10 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Slowing), down 17% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Alabama run below the national norm: the state registers 88.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $936 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Alabama's average monthly utility costs around $245 (state average). Workers in Cowarts report an average commute of 23.3 minutes, with 86.2% driving alone and 0.4% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 61.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Cowarts's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from housing and income to work and mobility to population change to comparison shortlist; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Cowarts, city-specific coverage includes annual population history, local building permits, commute-mode shares. No matched row is reported here for FBI reported-crime rates, matched public-school count, within-city Census tract profiles; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

1. Housing and income

How far does income reach against housing in Cowarts?

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Income and home value move within the same broad scale here. The useful next check is not a generic affordability label, but whether similar-size cities offer a materially different income, housing, or commute trade-off.

The home-value-to-income reference sits in a middle range: the ACS median home value is 3.1 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 10.6%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

Compare the housing trade-off →

Question 2

What does the journey to work look like in Cowarts?

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 86.2%. The reported mean trip to work is 23.3 minutes.

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. The profile is strongly car-oriented, so a relocation comparison should put trip distance, vehicle access, and household fuel costs ahead of a citywide commute average. The same-state peer links offer a more relevant benchmark than a national label.

Compare commute patterns →

Question 3

Is Cowarts growing, shrinking, or holding steady?

Census PEP estimates show the population grew by +127 residents from 2020 to 2025, a +6.6% change. Separately, Census BPS recorded 10 housing units authorized in 2024. PEP and ACS are different Census series, so the trend is kept separate from the headline ACS population.

Recent estimates point upward. Growth can increase housing demand and service needs, but the permit record must move in the same direction before calling it a supply response; the two series measure different things.

See the national growth ranking →

4. Comparison shortlist

Which cities make useful reference points for Cowarts?

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Within Alabama, the closest population matches are Kinsey (2,175 residents, $51,042 income); Brundidge (2,170 residents, $37,555 income); Elberta (2,209 residents, $57,996 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Cass City, MI (2,189 residents); Shingletown, CA (2,188 residents); Windy Hills, KY (2,188 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

Population

2,189 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$57,734 /yr

Below median income · poverty 10.6% (Above-median poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.8 (US=100)

Very affordable · BEA RPP 2024, Alabama average

City profile score · Cowarts, AL

43/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Cost of living A+
88.8 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Poverty rate F
10.6%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Household income F
$57,734

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Bachelor's+ share F
11.6%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Cowarts profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Cost of living, Poverty rate, Household income, Bachelor's+ share. Cost of livingPoverty rateHousehold incomeBachelor's+ share 43 D
Cowarts profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Cost of living: 90/100 (A+) · 88.8 index
  • Poverty rate: 37/100 (F) · 10.6%
  • Household income: 31/100 (F) · $57,734
  • Bachelor's+ share: 11/100 (F) · 11.6%

How does Cowarts compare to other US cities?

Here's how Cowarts stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 32% higher than other cities
Home value 35% pricier than other cities
Median rent 1% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Cowarts against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Alabama only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Alabama-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Cowarts near the bottom of Alabama's cities

Among the 556 Alabama cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Cowarts ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Cowarts only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#222 of 530
58th percentile in Alabama
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 556
0th percentile in Alabama
Median Home Value
#173 of 517
67th percentile in Alabama
Poverty Rate
#302 of 556
45th percentile in Alabama
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#373 of 556
33rd percentile in Alabama
How in-state ranks are ordered

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Alabama only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

32ndIncome percentile
Gauge source note

32nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Cowarts's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$176,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 65% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Cowarts $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Cowarts's home-value-to-income ratio: 3.1×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
moderate
3.0–5.0×
National rank
#6,950 of 15,516
More affordable than 55% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#5,837 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 3.1×, Cowarts sits in the moderate band: national rank #6,950 of 15,516 and #5,837 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). Income and home value move in the same broad scale; check same-state peers before treating the multiple as an advantage or a warning.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$57,734 Cowarts, AL median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Cowarts, AL Cowarts, AL's median household income ($57,734) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Cowarts, AL-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Cowarts, AL median $57,734/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Cowarts, AL median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Cowarts, AL.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 11.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 47.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,189
Median Income
$57,734
Median Home Value
$176,100
Median Age
38.3
Poverty Rate
10.6%
Labor force participation
47.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
11.6%

Population Change

PEP vintage

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,900 residents1,950 residents2,000 residents2,050 residents2,100 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,937 residents 2,064 residents ▲ +6.6%
Cowarts's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.
Read the chart as text
Period Population
2020 1,937 residents
2021 1,965 residents
2022 1,984 residents
2023 2,002 residents
2024 2,043 residents
2025 2,064 residents

Housing Supply

BPS source

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
10
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
8
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 12
2020 15
2021 8
2022 9
2023 15
2024 10

Permit volume decreased 17% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
23.3 minutes
Drive Alone
86.2%
Carpool
9.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
0.4%
Other
3.7%

Based on 781 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

Alabama statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $245

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Alabama at $245 (electricity about $138 , water and sewer about $45 ).

These are Alabama statewide averages, not a meter reading for Cowarts. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Alabama's BEA cost-of-living index is 88.8 (Well Below Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Cowarts is $936/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Alabama statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 61.5 / 100 (Moderate).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a Alabama statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Cowarts sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Cowarts compares to similar-size Alabama cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Cowarts (this city) 2,189 $57,734
Kinsey 2,175 $51,042
Brundidge 2,170 $37,555
Elberta 2,209 $57,996
Census BPS 2024
Primary sources on this page

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

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