Blount County
AL · Pop. 59,292 · Suburban County
Blount County is a suburban county in Alabama, spanning 645 square miles with 59,292 residents at a density of 91.9 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, cotton, corn. A median home price of $170,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.3% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 215-day growing season, average summer highs of 89.2°F and average winter lows of 31.8°F. Annual rainfall averages 55.4 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. St. Vincent's Blount is 5.3 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 74.4% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 215-day growing season in USDA zone 8a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.3% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $170,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- St. Vincent's Blount, with an emergency room, is just 5.3 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 2.4% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- Broadband reaches only 74.4% of homes, a real gap for remote work or online sales.
At a glance
Blount County, AL is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 63/100
- Median home price
- $170k
- Property tax
- 0.3%
- Growing season
- 215 days (zone 8a)
- Annual rainfall
- 55.4"
- Broadband
- 74.4%
- Nearest hospital
- St. Vincent's Blount, 5.3 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Blount County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Blount County?
- Blount County is in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 215-day growing season, average summer highs of 89.2°F, and average winter lows of 31.8°F. The established crops are hay, cotton, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $170,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.3%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 74.4% of homes, so verify service at a specific parcel before purchasing.
- How close is healthcare?
- St. Vincent's Blount is 5.3 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
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More counties in Alabama
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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