Population
18,221
2025
−3.9% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Pickens County, AL: population growth, jobs and income
Pickens County lost 248 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−1.3%).
Pickens County had an estimated 18,221 residents in 2025, down 3.9% (735 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than Alabama as a whole (+3.2%), and the 54th fastest growth of 67 counties in Alabama.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Pickens County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Pickens County, ranked against Alabama and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$648/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes22.5%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months52025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−169
2025
−9.3 per 1,000 residents
−290 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
3.9%
2025
+0.2 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
4
2025
0.2 per 1,000 residents
Small base: the change swings on a few homes or people, so we don't show it.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$46,274
2020–24
+14.6% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
2,546
2023
−5.7% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 169 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 2,546 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −5.7% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 3.9% in 2025, 0.2 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 4 new homes in 2025, or 0.2 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $46,274 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +14.6% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,810th.
Part of the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area.
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Pickens County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18,221 | −248 |
| 2024 | 18,469 | −209 |
| 2023 | 18,678 | −38 |
| 2022 | 18,716 | +109 |
| 2021 | 18,607 | −349 |
| 2020 | 18,956 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Pickens County
Pickens County lost 735 people since 2020; the biggest drag was natural change (−529).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −85 | −529 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +7 | +77 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −169 | −290 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | −1 | +7 | |
| Total change | −248 | −735 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Alabama | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 54th of 67 | 2,810th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 64th of 67 | 2,844th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 57th of 67 | 2,543rd of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 53rd of 67 | 2,891st of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 55th of 67 | 1,376th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 50th of 67 | 2,631st of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Pickens County, AL as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Pickens County's population change (−3.9%) was ahead of 3 of its 7 neighbouring counties and behind 4.
4 of its 7 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Pickens County's $46,274 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pickens County, AL This county | 18,221 | −3.9% | −9.3 | 0.2 | $46,274 |
| Lowndes County, MS | 57,346 | −2.4% | 0.2 | 2.5 | $53,812 |
| Greene County, AL | 7,067 | −8.2% | −3.5 | 0.1 | $29,200 |
| Noxubee County, MS | 9,798 | −4.2% | −8.7 | 0.0 | $33,833 |
| Lamar County, AL | 13,587 | −2.6% | 7.8 | 0.0 | $50,000 |
| Fayette County, AL | 15,872 | −2.8% | 2.7 | 0.0 | $49,488 |
| Tuscaloosa County, AL | 241,368 | +3.8% | −3.1 | 2.5 | $66,231 |
| Sumter County, AL | 11,588 | −5.0% | 1.1 | 0.3 | $33,310 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Pickens County growing?
No. Its population fell 3.9% between 2020 and 2025, about 735 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). Alabama as a whole changed +3.2% over the same years. That ranks 54th of 67 counties in Alabama for population growth.
How many people moved to Pickens County?
On net, none in 2025: about 169 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Pickens County?
It averaged 3.9% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Pickens County?
About 18,221 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Pickens County?
Private employers there had 2,546 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −5.7% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Alabama
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Alabama county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Pickens County data alerts
Email me when Pickens County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.