Gadsden, AL business phone guide
Population, businesses by sector and industry, area codes and local numbers for the Gadsden, AL metro area.
- Population
- 103,0002024 est.
- Establishments
- 1,954CBP 2023
- Counties
- 1
- Area codes
- 4
Gadsden, AL at a glance
The Gadsden, AL metro area covers 1 county in Alabama and had 103,000 residents in July 2024, down 0.2% since April 2020. The U.S. population grew 2.6% over the same period. By population it ranks 386th of the 925 metro and micropolitan areas and 435th by business establishments.
| County | Population (2024) |
|---|---|
| Etowah County, AL | 103,207 |
Source: Census Vintage 2024 metropolitan and micropolitan area estimates.
Establishments and employment in Gadsden, AL
County Business Patterns counted 1,954 establishments in the area in 2023, employing 28,155 people in mid-March with $1.2 billion in annual payroll. That is an average of 14.4 employees per establishment. 46.5% of establishments with employees had fewer than five people. By establishment count, the largest sectors are retail trade (379), health care and social assistance (299), and other services (except public administration) (235).
| Sector (NAICS) | Establishments | Employees | Annual payroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Trade (44) | 379 | 4,843 | $152,322,000 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance (62) | 299 | 6,736 | $360,399,000 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) (81) | 235 | 1,478 | $38,970,000 |
| Accommodation and Food Services (72) | 196 | 3,819 | $67,474,000 |
| Finance and Insurance (52) | 141 | 990 | $61,650,000 |
| Construction (23) | 137 | 985 | $58,330,000 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54) | 128 | 678 | $35,154,000 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (56) | 87 | 1,356 | $56,959,000 |
| Manufacturing (31) | 86 | 4,037 | $181,214,000 |
| Wholesale Trade (42) | 74 | 1,151 | $66,000,000 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (53) | 61 | 237 | $9,937,000 |
| Transportation and Warehousing (48) | 51 | 847 | $51,122,000 |
| Information (51) | 28 | 195 | $10,934,000 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71) | 18 | 337 | $5,594,000 |
| Educational Services (61) | 11 | 233 | $5,416,000 |
| Utilities (22) | 9 | 156 (high noise) | $13,682,000 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises (55) | 8 | 51 (high noise) | $5,954,000 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11) | 4 | 9 (high noise) | $326,000 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023, two-digit NAICS sectors. Manufacturing, retail and transportation span several two-digit codes; CBP reports them under 31, 44 and 48.
How Gadsden, AL's businesses compare
Gadsden, AL has 18.9 business establishments per 1,000 residents, 23.0% below the U.S. figure of 24.6. Establishments average 14.4 employees against 16.7 nationally, and payroll per employee is $42,012 (38.5% below the U.S. $68,342). 46.5% of establishments with employees have fewer than five people (U.S.: 55.5%), while 4.8% have 50 or more. Averages are pulled up by large employers; the size table is the better guide to what a typical business here looks like.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 909 | 46.5% | 55.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 442 | 22.6% | 17.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 306 | 15.7% | 12.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 203 | 10.4% | 9.1% |
| 50 or more employees | 93 | 4.8% | 5.4% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Small-business industries in Gadsden, AL
Of the 141 industries these guides cover, 81 have a published Census count in Gadsden, AL. The largest are limited-service restaurants (97), physician practices (79), and full-service restaurants (63). Relative to population, new car dealers are the most over-represented: 13.6 per 100,000 residents against 6.4 nationally.
| Industry | Establishments | Employees | Employees per establishment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limited-service restaurants | 97 | 2,020 | 20.8 |
| Physician practices | 79 | 1,016 | 12.9 |
| Full-service restaurants | 63 | 1,419 | 22.5 |
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 37 | 123 | 3.3 |
| Law offices | 36 | 125 | 3.5 |
| Plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors | 35 | 237 | 6.8 |
| Dental offices | 31 | 239 | 7.7 |
| Electrical contractors | 27 | 214 | 7.9 |
| Pharmacies and drug stores | 22 | 277 | 12.6 |
| Home health care agencies | 20 | 338 | 16.9 |
| Landscaping services | 20 | 143 | 7.2 |
| General automotive repair shops | 20 | 66 | 3.3 |
| Child day care services | 19 | 253 | 13.3 |
| Automotive parts and accessories stores | 18 | 183 | 10.2 |
| Janitorial services | 16 | 331 | 20.7 |
| Physical, occupational and speech therapy clinics | 14 | 486 | 34.7 |
| Tax preparation services | 14 | — | — |
| Residential remodelers | 14 | 79 | 5.6 |
| New car dealers | 14 | 410 | 29.3 |
| Hotels and motels | 14 | 170 | 12.1 |
| Supermarkets and grocery stores | 14 | 588 | 42.0 |
| Chiropractic offices | 13 | 56 | 4.3 |
| Offices of certified public accountants | 13 | 117 | 9.0 |
| Offices of real estate agents and brokers | 13 | — | — |
| Used car dealers | 13 | 80 | 6.2 |
Selected small-business industries (six-digit NAICS) covered by these guides. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Area codes in Gadsden, AL
The area's named cities and towns have 51 NANPA-assigned exchanges across 4 area codes; 256 has the most (84%). A local number in the code your customers know is the simplest signal that you are nearby; Callata's plan includes up to 3.
Local numbers by city
Pages for 2 cities and towns in the area list their area codes, prefixes and carriers.
| Place | Population (2024) | Area codes | Exchanges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gadsden, AL | 33,086 | 256, 938 | 39 |
| Attalla, AL | 5,746 | 256, 938 | 9 |
Phone costs for a typical Gadsden, AL business
The comparison below uses 14 users, the rounded average establishment size in Gadsden, AL. At list prices checked September 28, 2026, that is $349.30 a month on Ooma Office Pro and $420.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core. On Callata the same 14 people cost $279.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $279.00 | $3,348.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $266.00 | $3,192.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $322.00 | $3,864.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $349.30 | $4,191.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $378.00 | $4,536.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $420.00 | $5,040.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Callata in Gadsden, AL
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
If you already have a number in Gadsden, AL, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
What area codes serve Gadsden, AL?
256, 938, 205, and 659, by NANPA-assigned exchanges in the area's named places.
How many businesses are in the Gadsden, AL area?
1,954 establishments in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns.
How much does a business phone system cost in Gadsden, AL?
Callata is $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user; for a 14-person team that is $279.00 a month. The same team on Ooma Office Pro lists at $349.30 a month (checked September 28, 2026).