Unemployment in Baldwin County, Alabama, is lower than in 91% of U.S. counties
In Baldwin County, 2.8% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is lower than in 91% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 56% of U.S. counties.
What drives Baldwin County's score
In Baldwin County, collections and bankruptcy is the highest-scoring part, at 70.0. Jobs are the lowest part, at 23.1.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Baldwin County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Baldwin County is worse off than most counties on bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (328.2, 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 70.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector22.3% · August 202547th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people328.2 · 202592nd percentile
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- 55.0 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent19.5% · 2020 to 202458th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income20.8% · fiscal year 202751st percentile
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- 49.9 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.7% · August 202553rd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind5.7% · August 202557th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score37.4% · second quarter of 202638th percentile
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- 32.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line10.5% · 202426th percentile
- Children below the poverty line15.0% · 202438th percentile
- People with a disability13.2% · 2020 to 202423rd percentile
- People without health insurance8.3% · 2020 to 202454th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$82,519 · 202417th percentile
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- 23.1 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year2.8% · Oct 2025 to Sep 20267th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working18.9% · 2020 to 202438th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Baldwin County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Baldwin County, 21.7% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Baldwin County
Alabama
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Baldwin County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 22.3% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In Baldwin County, Alabama, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 22.3%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Baldwin County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 7.0% in 2011 to 8.1% in 2012.
The share of households in Baldwin County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2013 and has since fallen by about a quarter
Low on the chart: 5.6% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Baldwin County, Alabama.
How Baldwin County has changed
Baldwin County's population had its largest rise in the last span, from 227,057 in 2019 to 261,608 in 2024.
Baldwin County's population grew to about five times its 1969 size in 2024, reaching 261,608, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 1969 to 1974, reaching 66,072. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Baldwin County, Alabama.
The number of jobs located in Baldwin County had its largest rise in the last span, from 73,087 in 2020 to 87,943 in 2025.
The number of jobs located in Baldwin County tripled from 1990 to 2025, reaching 87,943, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2005 to 2010, reaching 58,140. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Baldwin County, Alabama.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.3% | 2025 2.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 13.2% | 2024 10.5% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $24,043 | 2024 $82,519 |
The table uses 2.5% for 2025; the score uses 2.8% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Baldwin County's history
1809
Established December 21, 1809. Wikipedia
1979
Baldwin County repeatedly declared disaster area from multiple hurricanes. Wikipedia
2005
Lightning in July 2005 killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2014
A flash flood in April 2014 did $27 million in property damage and killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2015
Lightning in July 2015 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2017
Lightning in August 2017 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 231,767, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1969
38 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Baldwin County, 10 of them for flooding. FEMA
Baldwin County beside its neighbors
All six counties that border Baldwin County, in Alabama and Florida, score higher than it does. Of the group, Baldwin County gets the smallest share of its income from benefit checks; Monroe County gets the largest, at 37.4%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County, AL | 95 | 21.2% | 37.4% |
| Clarke County, AL | 91 | 17.8% | 35.7% |
| Mobile County, AL | 90 | 16.7% | 27.2% |
| Escambia County, AL | 89 | 19.7% | 34.1% |
| Escambia County, FL | 88 | 14.5% | 25.9% |
| Washington County, AL | 66 | 17.8% | 34.9% |
| Baldwin County, AL | 43 | 10.5% | 22.3% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Baldwin County the poorest county in Alabama?
No, Baldwin County's poverty rate was 10.5% in 2024, 63rd highest of 67 in Alabama (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Bullock County, at 36.7%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Baldwin County ranks 64th of 67 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Baldwin County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Legal Services Alabama
Legal aid
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Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service
Lawyer referral
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Baldwin County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Baldwin County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.