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Jefferson County vs Walker County, AL: growth, jobs and income compared

Walker County is holding level while Jefferson County is shrinking: +0.0% vs −0.1% between 2024 and 2025. Jefferson County lost 843 residents and Walker County gained 23 residents (Census Bureau population estimates).

Data as of 2025 · updated

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Side by side

Jefferson County vs Walker County, AL side by side: public federal figures
MeasureJefferson CountyWalker County
Population2025665,742 Larger65,140
Population change2020–25−1.3%−0.0% Higher
Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025−4.54.1 Higher
Private-sector job growth2018–23+1.8% Higher−1.1%
Median household income2020–24$66,388 Higher$56,509
Unemployment rate20252.9%2.8% Lower
New homes permitted per 1,000 residents20253.6 Higher0.2

The tag marks the stronger figure in each row: the higher one, or the lower one for the unemployment rate ("Larger" is only the head count). Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier. – 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.

The two counties share a border, and both are part of the Birmingham, AL metro area.

Each county in full

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Questions

Is Jefferson County or Walker County growing faster?

Walker County is holding level while Jefferson County is shrinking: +0.0% vs −0.1% between 2024 and 2025. Jefferson County lost 843 residents and Walker County gained 23 residents (Census Bureau population estimates).

Which has the higher median household income, Jefferson County or Walker County?

Jefferson County: $66,388, against $56,509 in Walker County (American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24).

Which has the lower unemployment rate, Jefferson County or Walker County?

Walker County: 2.8%, against 2.9% in Jefferson County (2025 annual average, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics).

Where they rank in the state

More comparisons

Sources and method

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.