County · Alabama

Russell County, Alabama

Russell County, Alabama. Russell County had 58,898 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.5% since 2020, while Alabama grew 3.3%. It holds 3 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs and 1 census-designated) and 18 census tracts. GEOID 01113.

Russell County is one of the 7 counties of the Columbus, GA-AL metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

58,898

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 59,183 · ACS 2020-2024: 58,811

Median household income

$51,197

±$3,129 (90% margin)
Alabama: $63,999

Median home value

$165,700

±$10,552 (90% margin)
Alabama: $209,900

Median gross rent

$939

±$39 (90% margin)
Alabama: $1,007

How many people live in Russell County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 59,183 residents in Russell County. The Census Bureau estimates 58,898 for July 1, 2025, down 0.5% since 2020, while Alabama grew 3.3%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 58,811 over 641 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −589 (58,662)
2021→2022 −129 (58,533)
2022→2023 +243 (58,776)
2023→2024 +183 (58,959)
2024→2025 −61 (58,898)

Russell County in Alabama. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Russell County	Alabama	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	58,811	5,086,768	+859
Households	23,938±416	1,997,247	no clear change
Average household size	2.44±0.04	2.48	no clear change
Housing units	27,711±31	2,337,265	no clear change

Russell County's population since 2000

From 49,756 in 2000 to 58,898 in 2025: up 18.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 49,756
2005 (estimate) 49,731
2010 Census 52,947
2015 (estimate) 58,946
2020 Census 59,183
2025 (estimate) 58,898

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Russell County?

Russell County holds 3 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Phenix City with 38,344 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Russell County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Phenix City	city	38,816	38,499±30	$50,053	$170,300	24.5%	83%
Ladonia	CDP	3,074	3,346±819	$53,441	$102,000	16.0%	100%
Hurtsboro	town	349	421±181	$26,375	$138,000	15.7%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Russell County?

The median resident of Russell County is 37.5 years old; 24.3% are under 18 and 15.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 45.1%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 43.9%. 2.7% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Russell County	Alabama	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	37.5±0.5	39.3	+1.2
Under 18 years	24.3%	22.2%	–
65 years and over	15.3%±0.1 pts	17.8%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	6.0%	5.6%	+0.5 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	43.9%±0.3 pts	63.4%	−2.2 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	45.1%±0.8 pts	25.6%	+1.7 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.5%±0.2 pts	1.4%	−0.4 pts
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.9%±0.8 pts	3.3%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.3 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	2.7%±0.5 pts	4.0%	−1.0 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	4.1%±0.6 pts	6.0%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	13.3%±1.6 pts	7.7%	–
With a disability	19.8%±1.4 pts	16.5%	–
No health insurance coverage	11.3%±1.7 pts	9.2%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	87.0%±1.5 pts	88.6%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	18.2%±1.9 pts	28.4%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	5.9%±1.0 pts	11.1%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	4.7%±1.2 pts	2.4%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Russell County earn?

Half of Russell County's 23,938 households earn less than $51,197 a year (±$3,129), against $63,999 in Alabama. In 2015-2019 it was $52,234 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 22.2% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Russell County	Alabama	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$51,197±$3,129	$63,999	no clear change
Mean household income	$67,551±$3,766	$88,898	–
Per capita income	$28,243±$1,593	$36,087	no clear change
People below the poverty line	22.2%±2.7 pts	15.6%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	32.4%±5.6 pts	21.3%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	20.1%±2.4 pts	13.7%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	79.7%±2.6 pts	87.5%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Russell County?

Owners occupy 61.3% of Russell County's occupied homes and renters 38.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $165,700 by its owner (±$10,552). The median renter pays $939 a month including utilities, and 44.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Russell County	Alabama	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$165,700±$10,552	$209,900	+$15,555
Median gross rent	$939±$39	$1,007	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	44.0%±6.4 pts	39.9%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,356±$60	$1,433	–
Owner-occupied homes	61.3%±2.5 pts	70.2%	no clear change
Housing units	27,711±31	2,337,265	no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate	2.2%±1.2 pts	1.1%	–
Rental vacancy rate	8.6%±2.6 pts	7.2%	–
Single-family detached homes	65.1%±2.9 pts	69.1%	–
Mobile homes	14.1%±1.9 pts	12.3%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.1%±0.6 pts	2.3%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	3.8%±0.9 pts	4.9%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Russell County building?

Builders took permits for 151 new housing units across Russell County in 2025 (147 single-family), 2.6 per 1,000 residents.

2019 165 units
2020 222 units
2021 186 units
2022 335 units
2023 169 units
2024 183 units
2025 151 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Russell County get to work?

78.7% of Russell County's workers drive alone and 9.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.2%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Russell County	Alabama	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	55.9%±1.7 pts	58.3%	–
Unemployment rate	6.2%±1.4 pts	4.7%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	78.7%±2.4 pts	80.6%	–
Carpooled	8.3%±1.7 pts	8.0%	–
Public transportation	0.9%±0.6 pts	0.3%	–
Walked	0.8%±0.5 pts	1.1%	–
Worked from home	9.3%±1.9 pts	8.8%	+6.7 pts
Mean travel time to work	26.3 min±1.5	25.5 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Russell County's census tracts?

Russell County is divided into 18 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $20,586 (Tract 308) to $73,000 (Tract 309.05).

Census tracts of Russell County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 30201113030200	Phenix City	1,766	1,661±532	$34,375	$87,500	$830	40.9%
Tract 30301113030300	Phenix City	3,198	2,645±484	$26,501	$87,900	$830	45.9%
Tract 304.0201113030402	Phenix City (52%)	3,252	3,474±451	$62,333	$178,000	$1,198	16.7%
Tract 304.0301113030403	Phenix City	3,601	4,380±712	$51,893	$207,400	$1,071	35.3%
Tract 304.0401113030404	Phenix City (97%)	2,810	2,692±442	$58,092	$144,200	$1,240	23.4%
Tract 30501113030500	Phenix City (61%)	2,367	2,362±323	$61,000	$212,700	$950	20.0%
Tract 306.0101113030601	Phenix City (79%)	3,717	3,371±556	$29,040	$91,700	$1,387	24.3%
Tract 306.0201113030602	Phenix City (82%)	4,525	4,848±800	$54,004	$135,300	$843	10.2%
Tract 30701113030700	Phenix City	3,619	3,568±738	$41,607	$136,800	$933	25.6%
Tract 30801113030800	Phenix City (96%)	2,981	3,236±478	$20,586	not published	$656	54.8%
Tract 309.0301113030903	Phenix City (25%)	4,598	3,436±707	$57,636	$209,600	$1,021	17.5%
Tract 309.0401113030904	–	2,991	3,162±528	not published	$275,700	$2,012	14.6%
Tract 309.0501113030905	–	3,795	4,362±909	$73,000	$253,600	$2,180	9.4%
Tract 309.0601113030906	Ladonia (42%)	3,566	4,152±876	$46,967	$133,500	$1,034	29.3%
Tract 309.0701113030907	Ladonia (29%)	3,135	2,615±413	$54,711	$127,300	$946	16.3%
Tract 31001113031000	Phenix City (1%)	3,857	3,656±499	$72,444	$205,300	$752	7.4%
Tract 31101113031100	Hurtsboro (33%)	1,539	1,667±392	$39,889	$82,800	$927	17.6%
Tract 31201113031200	–	3,866	3,524±480	$57,779	$200,000	$822	7.2%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Russell County compare with Alabama's other counties?

Russell County's rank among Alabama's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	24th of 67
Growth 2020-2025	39th of 67
Residents per square mile	22nd of 67
Median household income	43rd of 67
Median home value	25th of 67
Median gross rent	15th of 67
Poverty rate	15th of 67
Bachelor's degree or higher	30th of 67
Median age	61st of 67

Every county in Alabama

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Russell County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.