Population & Household section gives reader an outlook. of general population profile, structure, and outlook.
Population Trend
Macon County, AL, is experiencing significant demographic challenges, with a negative population growth rate of -1.5% over the past year and a 13-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -1.02%. The county's median age is 37.8, slightly below the state average of 39.3, but it has a notably low sex ratio of 85.8, indicating a higher female population. Additionally, 20.2% of residents are over 65, which is higher than the state average of 17.3%. Compared to other counties in Alabama, Macon County's trends suggest a need for targeted economic and social initiatives to address its declining population and aging demographic.
Total Population
19198
Sex Ratio
85.8 %
Population Growth (2021-2022)
-1.5 %
Population CAGR (2010-2022)
-1.02 %
Population Growth Rate (%)
Source: Census.gov
Age Structure
Dependency Rate
58.2 %
Median Age
37.8 y.o.
% of Population > 65 y.o.
20.2 %
Active Aging Index
148.5 %
Old Dependency Rate
32 %
Young Dependency Rate
26.3 %
Age Structure (%)
Source: Census.gov
Population Structure
Source: Census.gov
Household Status
Macon County, AL, with a total of 7,131 households, exhibits distinct demographic characteristics compared to other counties in Alabama. The county has a higher percentage of households with elderly residents (40.1%) than the state average (31.9%) and most neighboring counties, indicating a significant aging population. Conversely, only 21.5% of households include children, which is lower than the state average of 29.3%. The average household size in Macon County is 2.33, below the state average of 2.53, reflecting smaller family units. Additionally, Macon County has experienced a negative household growth rate of -0.07%, contrasting with the overall state growth rate of 1.59%. This suggests potential challenges in attracting new residents or retaining the current population, especially when compared to counties like Baldwin and Madison, which show robust growth.
Total Households
7131
Married-couple Household
2165
Household CAGR (2010-2022)
-0.92 %
Household Growth (2021-2022)
-0.07 %
Average Household Size
2.33 p
Average Family Size
3 p
Household with Children (%)
21.5 %
Household with Elder 65+ (%)
40.1 %
Household Size
Source: Census.gov
Household Structure
Source: Census.gov
Marriage
Never Married
51.7 %
Now Married
31.8 %
Widowed
7 %
Divorced
9.6 %
Marriage Status
Source: Census.gov
Marriage Status Breakdown
Source: Census.gov | S1201
Cultures
*Culture section contains several components: races, education, marriage and other factors.
Racial Profiiles
Macon County, AL, exhibits a unique demographic profile compared to both state and national averages. With a single race percentage of 95.9%, it is slightly below Alabama's 96.3% but significantly higher than the national average of 91.2%. Notably, Macon County has a strikingly high non-white population at 83.7%, predominantly Black at 78.9%, which is substantially higher than Alabama's 26.4% and the national average of 12.5%. This demographic concentration highlights Macon County's distinct cultural identity within Alabama, contrasting sharply with more diverse counties like Jefferson and Mobile, which have more balanced racial distributions.
One Race
95.9 %
Two or More Races
4.1 %
Non-White
83.7 %
Hispanic (Overlapping)
2.4 %
White
3133
Black
15142
Asian
78
Native American
7
Race Structure (%)
Source: Census.gov
Racial Profile Breakdown
Source: Census.gov
Place of Birth
Macon County, AL, exhibits a notably high percentage of U.S.-born residents at 98.8%, significantly surpassing the Alabama state average of 96.5% and the national average of 86.3%. The county's foreign-born population is minimal at just 1.2%, with only 227 individuals, indicating a less diverse demographic compared to other counties like Jefferson (3.9%) and Madison (5.5%). Additionally, 75.2% of residents were born in Alabama, reflecting a strong local identity. This trend highlights Macon County's relative homogeneity within the broader context of Alabama's more diverse counties.
Native US Citizen
3133
Native US Citizen (%)
83.7 %
Born in Alabama (%)
75.2 %
Born in Other State (%)
23.2 %
Foreign Born (%)
1.2 %
Naturalized (% of Foreign Born)
25.1 %
Place of Birth Changes (2010-2022)
Source: Census.gov
Birthplace Breakdown (Outside of US)
Source: Census.gov
Migration
-
Migration Inflow (% of Population)
9.3 %
From Different County (% of Inflow)
51.1 %
From Different State (% of Inflow)
41.5 %
From Different Country (% of Inflow)
7.4 %
%
Source: Census.gov
Religion
Number of Congregations
79
Number of Adherents
11646
Adherents (% of Total Population)
60.7 %
Christian (% of Total Population)
58 %
Religion Breakdown
Source: Census.gov
Education Attainment
Macon County, AL, shows a modest educational attainment level, with 20.6% of the population aged 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree, slightly above the national average of 34.3% and significantly below Alabama's average of 27.2%. The county's median earnings of $32,869 are lower than the state median of $43,016 and the national median of $48,747. However, the percentage of bachelor degree holders enrolled in STEM fields (45.2%) is notably high compared to both state (41.4%) and national (45.8%) figures, indicating a potential area for growth in higher education and economic development.