City profile · Alabama · Census ACS 2023

Scottsboro, AL

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

15,641
Residents
$52,949
Median income
$175,700
Median home
$776
Median rent (state)

Scottsboro - the verdict

Scottsboro ranks in the 24th percentile for household income and the 33rd percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

24th
percentile, household income
35th
percentile, home value
0th
percentile, median rent
33rd
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: Scottsboro, AL

Alabama's Scottsboro is a small town, with 15,641 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Scottsboro households earn a median of $52,949 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 15.9%. Home values in Scottsboro run a median of $175,700, and the median resident age is 41.3 years. Educational attainment runs 25.0% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 49.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 45 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 114% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1973.7 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, near the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 59.9°F with 55.1 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in Alabama run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Alabama at 88.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $776 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $245 across Alabama, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 79.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

15,641 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alabama

Median Household Income

$52,949 /yr

Poverty 15.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alabama average

How does Scottsboro compare to other US cities?

Scottsboro measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 24% higher than other cities
Home value 35% pricier than other cities
Median rent 0% pricier than other cities
Safety 33% 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, Scottsboro ranks #114 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 Scottsboro 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 Scottsboro near the bottom of Alabama's cities

Among the 556 Alabama cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Scottsboro ranks #416 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Scottsboro only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#264 of 530
50th percentile in Alabama
Median Gross Rent
#416 of 556
0th percentile in Alabama
Median Home Value
#174 of 517
66th percentile in Alabama
Poverty Rate
#194 of 556
65th percentile in Alabama
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#122 of 556
78th 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.

24thIncome percentile
33rdSafety percentile

24th percentile nationally for median household income · 33rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Scottsboro's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Scottsboro'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 47 Avg. percentile National median
Scottsboro'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 Scottsboro's home value compares nationally

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

$175,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 65% 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%). 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. Scottsboro $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 - Scottsboro, AL Scottsboro, AL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Scottsboro, 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 Scottsboro, AL median $52,949/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%
Scottsboro, 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 Scottsboro, AL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 25.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 49.6%

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

Population
15,641
Median Income
$52,949
Median Home Value
$175,700
Median Age
41.3
Poverty Rate
15.9%
Labor force participation
49.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
25.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1973.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
200.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1773.2
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
59.9°F
Annual Precipitation
55.1"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
15,400 residents15,600 residents15,800 residents16,000 residents16,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 15,577 residents 16,123 residents ▲ +3.5%
Scottsboro's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
45
housing units authorized
Single-Family
45
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 21
2020 45
2021 39
2022 46
2023 42
2024 45

Permit volume increased 114% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
87.0%
Carpool
6.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.1%
Work from Home
5.3%

Based on 6,094 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 Scottsboro sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$776/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
79.0 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alabama

Hartselle
15,586 people
Chelsea
15,731 people
Gulf Shores
15,785 people
Gardendale
16,110 people
Center Point
16,125 people
Talladega
15,041 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Scottsboro's 15,641 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Mitchell, SD
15,637 people
Summerfield, MD
15,635 people
Palmview, TX
15,650 people
Bellmore, NY
15,652 people
Opelousas, LA
15,662 people
Mays Chapel, MD
15,616 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Scottsboro's $52,949 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Angustura, NM
$52,948 median income
Hollister, ID
$52,946 median income
Lafayette, IN
$52,946 median income
Saluda, NC
$52,946 median income
Ardmore, OK
$52,954 median income
Clay Springs, AZ
$52,955 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Scottsboro, 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 Scottsboro, AL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 86.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.3% White 86.5% Black or African American 5.0% Asian 0.6% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.9% Two or more races 3.7% 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 Scottsboro 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
Scottsboro (this city) 15,641 $52,949
Hartselle 15,586 $67,863
Chelsea 15,731 $110,056
Gulf Shores 15,785 $73,873
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AL FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Scottsboro, AL?

What is the population of Scottsboro, AL? +

Scottsboro, AL has a population of 15,641 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Scottsboro runs $52,949, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Scottsboro? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Scottsboro; 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 Scottsboro, AL safe? +

Scottsboro has a total crime rate of 1973.7 per 100,000 residents, which is near 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 Scottsboro, AL? +

Homes in Scottsboro carry a median value of $175,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Scottsboro? +

The average annual temperature in Scottsboro runs 59.9°F, 55.1 inches of precipitation. 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.