Gadsden, AL

Census Place

2024 Population

33,374

US Senator

Tommy Tuberville

Republican Party

US Senator

Katie Britt

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

38.6

2.53% 1-year decrease

2024 Poverty Rate

28.1%

1.94% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$40,345

4.25% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$116,800

Population & Diversity

Gadsden, AL is home to a population of 33.4k people, from which 96.8% are citizens.

As of 2024, 4.15% of Gadsden, AL residents were born outside of the country (1.39k people).

In 2024, there were 1.37 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (16.4k people) in Gadsden, AL than any other race or ethnicity. There were 12k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 1.73k Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

96.8%

2024 Citizenship

97.3%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 96.8% of Gadsden, AL residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Gadsden, AL was 97.3%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Gadsden, AL compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Gadsden, AL

White (Non-Hispanic)
16.4k ± 793
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
12k ± 695
Other (Hispanic)
1.73k ± 431

10.5%

Hispanic Population

3.51k people

10.5% of the people in Gadsden, AL are hispanic (3.51k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Gadsden, AL as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Alabama.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
53,867 ± 5,668 people
Guatemala
18,373 ± 3,322 people
Korea
11,536 ± 2,634 people

In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Alabama was Mexico, the natal country of 53,867 Alabama residents, followed by Guatemala with 18,373 and Korea with 11,536.

Foreign-Born Population

4.15%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

1.39k people

4.09%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

1.38k people

As of 2024, 4.15% of Gadsden, AL residents (1.39k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Gadsden, AL was 4.09%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Gadsden, AL compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
402 ± 139
Gulf War (2001-)
331 ± 136
Gulf War (1990s)
230 ± 105

Gadsden, AL has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.21 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Gadsden, AL.

Economy

The economy of Gadsden, AL employs 12.5k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Gadsden, AL were Manufacturing (2,381 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (2,176 people), and Retail Trade (1,713 people), and the highest paying industries were Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting ($72,993), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($72,895), and Public Administration ($52,900).

Employment

Occupations

12.5k

2024 Value

± 917

−3.28%

1 Year decline

± 10.7%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Gadsden, AL declined at a rate of −3.28%, from 13k employees to 12.5k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Gadsden, AL, are Production Occupations (1,903 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,325 people), and Material Moving Occupations (1,021 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Gadsden, AL.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Alabama.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Alabama (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

12.5k

2024 Value

± 917

−3.28%

1 Year decline

± 10.7%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Gadsden, AL declined at a rate of −3.28%, from 13k employees to 12.5k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Gadsden, AL, are Manufacturing (2,381 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (2,176 people), and Retail Trade (1,713 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Gadsden, AL, though some of these residents may live in Gadsden, AL and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$32,626

Median earning men ± $2,890

$24,078

Median earning women ± $1,923

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($105,500), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($72,895), and Public Administration ($53,800).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Public Administration ($49,464), Construction ($36,429), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($35,278).

Education

The student population of Gadsden, AL in 2024 is skewed towards women, with 2,018 male students and 3,053 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Gadsden, AL are White (1,091 and 72.9%), Black or African American (203 and 13.6%), Hispanic or Latino (122 and 8.16%), and Two or More Races (48 and 3.21%).

The largest universities in Gadsden, AL by number of degrees awarded are Gadsden State Community College (1,520 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Gadsden, AL are General Studies (215 and 14.1%), Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology (202 and 13.3%), and HVAC & Refrigeration Engineering Technology (106 and 6.97%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2024 there were 5,071 students enrolled in Gadsden, AL, 39.8% men and 60.2% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 3,422 records, of which 59% were women and 41% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Studies
215 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
105 degrees awarded
Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology
68 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Gadsden, AL was General Studies with 215 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Gadsden, AL according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Gadsden State Community College

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

1,520 degrees awarded

In 2024, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Gadsden State Community College with 1,520 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2024, 762 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Gadsden, AL, which is 1.01 times more than the 758 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2024, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 1,091 degrees mean that there were 5.37 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 203 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Public, 2-year ($3,096) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2024.

Public, 2-year ($1,176) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2024.

Public, 2-year ($1,600) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Gadsden, AL was $116,800 in 2024, which is 0.351 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $101,900 to $116,800, a 14.6% increase. The homeownership rate in Gadsden, AL is 55.7%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Gadsden, AL have an average commute time of 20.7 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Gadsden, AL is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$116,800

Median Property Value 2024

±$9,812

$7,097

Median Property Taxes

±$626

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Gadsden, AL the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Gadsden, AL compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

55.7%

Homeownership

2024

61.1%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 55.7% of the housing units in Gadsden, AL were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 54.4%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Gadsden, AL compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$40,345

Median Household Income

± $2,977

12.7k

Number of Households

± 814

In 2024, the median household income of the 12.7k households in Gadsden, AL grew to $40,345 from the previous year's value of $38,699.

The following chart displays the households in Gadsden, AL distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $60k - $75k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Gadsden, AL is from Alabama.

0.454

2024 Wage GINI in Alabama

0.456

2023 Wage GINI in Alabama

In 2024, the income inequality in Alabama was 0.454 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.411% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Alabama was lower than than the national average of 0.474. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Alabama in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Alabama across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (81.8%)
Carpooled (11%)
Worked At Home (4.19%)

In 2024, 81.8% of workers in Gadsden, AL drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (11%) and those who worked at home (4.19%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

20.7 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Gadsden, AL have a shorter commute time (20.7 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.21% of the workforce in Gadsden, AL have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Gadsden, AL compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Gadsden, AL distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Gadsden, AL have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

28.1% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Gadsden, AL (9.14k out of 32.5k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Females 55 - 64.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Gadsden, AL is Black, followed by White and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798, followed by New York (5,087).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

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