City profile · Alabama · Census ACS 2023

Heflin, AL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Heflin - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

3,462
Residents
$46,569
Median income
$155,800
Median home
$867
Median rent (state)

Heflin - the verdict

Heflin ranks in the 15th percentile for household income and the 68th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

15th
percentile, household income
29th
percentile, home value
2nd
percentile, median rent
68th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Heflin, AL

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 3,462 residents in Heflin, a small town within Alabama. Heflin households earn a median of $46,569 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 9.3%. Home values in Heflin run a median of $155,800, and the median resident age is 41.4 years. About 23.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 43.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 5 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 400% from five years earlier. Heflin reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 906.3 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 60.2°F with 57.4 inches of precipitation per year and 1.2 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Alabama run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Alabama scores 88.8 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $867 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Alabama's average monthly utility costs around $245 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 27.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

3,462 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alabama

Median Household Income

$46,569 /yr

Poverty 9.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alabama average

How does Heflin compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 15% higher than other cities
Home value 29% pricier than other cities
Median rent 2% pricier than other cities
Safety 68% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Alabama, Heflin ranks #47 of 222 Alabama cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Alabama-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher sits close to the middle of Alabama's city distribution

Among the 556 Alabama cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Heflin ranks #148 - the 73rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Heflin only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#338 of 530
36th percentile in Alabama
Median Gross Rent
#339 of 556
38th percentile in Alabama
Median Home Value
#222 of 517
57th percentile in Alabama
Poverty Rate
#335 of 556
40th percentile in Alabama
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#148 of 556
73rd percentile in Alabama

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.

15thIncome percentile
68thSafety percentile

15th percentile nationally for median household income · 68th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Heflin's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Heflin's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 56 Avg. percentile National median
Heflin's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Heflin's home value compares nationally

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

$155,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 71% of 15,600 US cities

$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%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Heflin $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

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Heflin, AL Heflin, AL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Heflin, AL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Heflin, AL median $46,569/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%
Heflin, AL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Heflin, AL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 43.2%

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

Population
3,462
Median Income
$46,569
Median Home Value
$155,800
Median Age
41.4
Poverty Rate
9.3%
Labor force participation
43.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
906.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
113.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
793.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
60.2°F
Annual Precipitation
57.4"
Annual Snowfall
1.2"

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,400 residents3,450 residents3,500 residents3,550 residents3,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,429 residents 3,572 residents ▲ +4.2%
Heflin's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
5
housing units authorized
Single-Family
5
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 1
2021 1
2022 1
2023 6
2024 5

Permit volume increased 400% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.1%
Carpool
12.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
3.1%

Based on 1,145 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Alabama - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$138
avg/month
Natural Gas
$62
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$245
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Alabama state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Alabama state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Heflin sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$867/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
27.5 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alabama

Elba
3,459 people
Mount Olive CDP (Jefferson County)
3,449 people
Evergreen
3,442 people
Alexandria
3,420 people
Triana
3,510 people
Moulton
3,397 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Heflin's 3,462 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

New Hampton, IA
3,462 people
Princess Anne, MD
3,461 people
Lake Nacimiento, CA
3,464 people
Frederick, OK
3,460 people
Mifflinburg, PA
3,464 people
Eagle Lake, TX
3,464 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Heflin's $46,569 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Arlington, GA
$46,571 median income
Richmondville, NY
$46,571 median income
Afton, OK
$46,571 median income
Memphis, TX
$46,567 median income
DeKalb, IL
$46,564 median income
Bellefonte, AR
$46,563 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Heflin, AL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Heflin, AL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 88.5% 8.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.4% White 88.5% Black or African American 8.3% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.5% Two or more races 2.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Heflin compares to nearby Alabama cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Heflin (this city) 3,462 $46,569
Elba 3,459 $41,310
Mount Olive CDP (Jefferson County) 3,449 $84,120
Evergreen 3,442 $38,098
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AL FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Heflin, AL?

What is the population of Heflin, AL? +

Heflin, AL has a population of 3,462 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Heflin, AL? +

The median household income in Heflin is $46,569 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Heflin? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Heflin; the closest available measure is the Alabama state average, a cost of living index of 88.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Alabama vary by metro area.

Is Heflin, AL safe? +

Heflin has a total crime rate of 906.3 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Heflin, AL? +

Heflin's median home value sits at $155,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Heflin? +

Heflin has an average annual temperature of 60.2°F, 57.4 inches of precipitation, and 1.2 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, 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.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

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

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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.