Population 1,181 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Alpha: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Alpha
Household size in Alpha
| Period | Alpha | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.24 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.26 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.35 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.49 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.25 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
The average household in Alpha has 2.49 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has climbed from 2.24 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Alpha
| Period | Alpha | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.0 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.7 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.7 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.3 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 46.7, Alpha is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Alpha
| Period | Alpha | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.6% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.2% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.1% of households in Alpha, well below the national share of 11.6%.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Alpha
Renters in Alpha
| Period | Alpha | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.8% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.0% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.4% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 13.0% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −8.8 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Alpha is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 13.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than half of owners (54.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Alpha
| Period | Alpha | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.8% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Alpha is close to the national rate: 10.2% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in Illinois as a whole (8.1%).
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Alpha
| Period | Alpha | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1953 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1950 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1953 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1958 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Alpha is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1958, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Alpha
| Period | Alpha | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $576 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $644 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $706 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $756 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$180 | +$475 | +$606 |
The median renter in Alpha pays $756 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 19.8% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Alpha
Bachelor's degrees in Alpha
| Period | Alpha | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.1% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.3% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.4% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.4% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Alpha: 21.4% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Alpha
| Period | Alpha | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.2% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.1% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.9% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.6% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Alpha is above the national rate: 93.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Alpha
| Period | Alpha | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.6% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.5% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Alpha has been strong: just 2.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Alpha compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | 2.49 | 46.7 | 6.1% | 13.0% | 10.2% | 1958 | $756 | 21.4% | 93.6% | 2.5% |
| New Windsor | 2.30 | 50.1 | 13.7% | 11.9% | 14.9% | 1959 | $497 | 14.3% | 91.7% | 2.1% |
| Woodhull | 2.17 | 48.0 | 3.2% | 23.4% | 17.5% | 1955 | $656 | 24.6% | 97.2% | 2.2% |
| Opheim | 2.48 | 48.6 | 2.7% | 6.6% | 13.6% | 1959 | $814 | 27.2% | 94.0% | 2.4% |
| Windsor Mercer County | 2.31 | 49.0 | 10.1% | 10.4% | 10.1% | 1959 | $648 | 16.9% | 92.9% | 3.0% |
| Swedona | 2.60 | 46.2 | 2.5% | 5.4% | 10.1% | 1958 | $809 | 27.0% | 96.2% | 1.2% |
| Rio | 2.84 | 34.7 | 4.5% | 10.5% | 17.6% | 1944 | $752 | 27.5% | 96.5% | 4.3% |
| Lynn Center | 2.61 | 45.5 | 2.6% | 6.9% | 10.7% | 1968 | $841 | 30.4% | 94.4% | 2.3% |
| North Henderson | 2.47 | 41.5 | 5.0% | 3.6% | 4.3% | 1939 | $755 | 29.8% | 97.3% | 2.7% |
| Andover | 2.33 | 44.8 | 3.7% | 20.9% | 9.0% | 1969 | $948 | 24.7% | 94.8% | 9.9% |
| Cable | 2.61 | 47.3 | 3.7% | 4.5% | 14.7% | 1978 | $845 | 35.4% | 90.4% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Landers, CA · Kendleton, TX · Hornsby, TN · Tunstall, VA · Stewart, MN · Tranquillity, CA · Herrick, IL · Washington, NH · Oil Springs, KY · Ashkum, IL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Alpha. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.