RANK #316 / 996 · POP 57,270 · AL
PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.5%
Colbert County, Alabama, is widely recognized for its musical heritage, particularly in Muscle Shoals, home to iconic recording studios like FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, where legendary artists recorded. Located in the northwest corner of Alabama along the Tennessee River, the county seat is Tuscumbia, also known as the birthplace of Helen Keller. The area offers a small-town atmosphere with access to natural beauty, including riverfront parks, golf courses, and wildlife preserves. The county also provides public transportation through a demand-response Dial-a-Ride program. Life in Colbert County is often characterized by a close-knit, small-town environment, attracting many retirees. The public schools in Colbert County are above average, with some elementary schools ranking highly within the state. The economy is supported by a strong industrial base, including manufacturing, and recent defense manufacturing investments are projected to create new jobs. The presence of the University of North Alabama in the broader Shoals area also contributes to the local economy through employment and student spending.
Below national median
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 3.0x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Colbert Combustion Turbine Plant Expansion
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
|
$750M | Operating |
|
Muscle Shoals Solar Project
Ørsted (acquired from Longroad Energy)
|
$227M | Operating |
|
Spring Valley Solar 2
Spring Valley LLC (for TVA)
|
$200M | Planned |
|
Muscle Shoals Sports, Retail and Entertainment Complex
City of Muscle Shoals (public/private partnership)
|
$65M | Planned |
|
Bank Independent Operations Center
Bank Independent
|
$60M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Colbert County has a Boom Town Index score of 68/100, ranking #316 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.3% and a median household income of $56,149, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Colbert County is $148,500 with median rent at $810/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3781, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.8% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.3%. Home values changed +1.1% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 3.15% of Colbert County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.