Lee County, AL

This county of 192,774 residents needs 7,901 more housing units over the next five years. Lee County is part of the Auburn - Opelika MPO.

Housing snapshot

Population
192,774 (2026)
Households
72,125
Median household income
$71,159 (2026)
Typical home value
$333,262
Owner-occupied
58%
Five-year housing need
7,901 units

Comparison to other Alabama counties

Lee County: $71,159 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$33K >$96K
Lee County: 0.9 jobs to household ratio
<0.35 >1.4
Lee County: Permits since 2021 represent 11.2% of housing
<0% >6.8%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

The typical home in Lee County, AL is valued at $333,262, well above the Alabama average of $183,532. With a median household income of $71,159 in Lee County, AL, housing costs are a modest stretch for the typical household.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Lee County, AL has a population of roughly 181,134, growing steadily at 2.0% per year.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Lee County, AL is a growing community of roughly 72,125 households, with population increasing at 2.0% per year.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

In Lee County, AL, detached single-family accounts for 58% of the housing stock. Homeownership is the norm in Lee County, AL, with 58% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Lee County, AL needs 7,901 new units over the next 5 years.

7,197
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
10.0%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 72,125 in 2026 to 79,322 in 2031.
704
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
704
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 1.8 per 1,000 units.
7,901
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
1,580
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
9.9%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
2.0%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How do these communities compare to each other?