Calhoun County
AL · Pop. 116,141 · Mixed County
Calhoun County is a mixed rural-suburban county in Alabama, spanning 606 square miles with 116,141 residents at a density of 191.7 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, cotton, wheat. A median home price of $150,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.41% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 225-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.9°F and average winter lows of 34.9°F. Annual rainfall averages 51.8 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Stringfellow Memorial Hospital is 7.1 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 93.9% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 225-day growing season in USDA zone 8a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.41% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $150,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 93.9% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Stringfellow Memorial Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 7.1 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
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.
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Calhoun County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Calhoun County?
- Calhoun County is in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 225-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.9°F, and average winter lows of 34.9°F. The established crops are hay, cotton, wheat.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $150,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.41%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 93.9% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Stringfellow Memorial Hospital is 7.1 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 3 hospitals in the county.
Explore Alabama Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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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.
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