Population 9,361 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Alto
Household size in Alto
| Period | Alto | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.95 | 2.69 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.99 | 2.70 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.88 | 2.69 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.96 | 2.66 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.02 | −0.03 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Alto are large by national standards, averaging 2.96 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Only ten of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have larger households.
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 Alto
| Period | Alto | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.9 | 36.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.6 | 37.2 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.0 | 37.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.4 | 38.3 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.5 | +2.3 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
At 40.4, the median age in Alto is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is older than in the Grand Rapids area as a whole, where the median age is 38.3. The median age has edged down from 40.9 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose.
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 Alto
| Period | Alto | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.5% | 11.0% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 10.9% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 10.5% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.6% | 9.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Alto: 2.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 2.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people, only two have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 Alto
Renters in Alto
| Period | Alto | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 24.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 26.9% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 26.6% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 2.8% | 25.4% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | +0.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 2.8% of households in Alto rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Nearly four in ten owners (37.8%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share has fallen 2.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Alto has the lowest share of renters of any Michigan city with 5,000+ people.
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 Alto
| Period | Alto | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 9.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 8.8% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 7.1% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 6.6% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Alto: 6.9% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The Grand Rapids area as a whole looks much the same. Vacancy has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Alto
| Period | Alto | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1974 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1974 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1976 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1978 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +5 | +3 | +6 |
Alto has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1988, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1983 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the northeast has the oldest housing.
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 Alto
| Period | Alto | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,165 | $800 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,020 | $848 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,022 | $950 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,926 | $1,285 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$761 | +$485 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Alto costs $1,926 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $761 a month since 2006–10, up 65%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 28.9% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southwest; the highest are in the northeast.
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 Alto
Bachelor's degrees in Alto
| Period | Alto | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.6% | 27.1% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 37.4% | 29.1% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 40.6% | 31.9% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 51.3% | 36.9% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.7 pts | +9.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Alto: 51.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 14.7 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Alto
| Period | Alto | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.8% | 88.5% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.6% | 89.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.5% | 91.0% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.9% | 92.2% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.1 pts | +3.7 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Alto: 98.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.1 points, as it has nationally. Of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people, only two have a higher share of high school graduates.
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 Alto
| Period | Alto | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 9.2% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 9.0% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.1% | 4.2% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 3.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | −5.3 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Alto runs below the national rate: 3.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 4.0 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
Alto 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alto | 2.96 | 40.4 | 2.6% | 2.8% | 6.9% | 1988 | $1,926 | 51.3% | 98.9% | 3.6% |
| McCords | 2.92 | 42.2 | 3.5% | 1.2% | 9.1% | 1997 | $2,127 | 58.6% | 99.0% | 2.0% |
| Bowne Center | 3.10 | 39.7 | 4.8% | 2.1% | 4.8% | 1985 | $2,950 | 35.5% | 97.6% | 1.7% |
| Caledonia | 2.77 | 38.0 | 5.9% | 13.7% | 5.4% | 1999 | $1,439 | 44.4% | 95.2% | 2.5% |
| Elmdale | 2.76 | 38.4 | 6.4% | 8.7% | 5.2% | 1985 | $1,905 | 32.0% | 96.9% | 4.7% |
| Dutton | 2.76 | 40.6 | 7.5% | 4.4% | 5.4% | 1997 | $1,604 | 48.3% | 96.0% | 0.2% |
| Forest Hills | 2.87 | 42.7 | 4.5% | 6.0% | 4.3% | 1988 | $1,911 | 70.6% | 97.6% | 1.1% |
| Irving | 2.75 | 37.0 | 7.8% | 11.2% | 4.8% | 1991 | $935 | 28.0% | 94.3% | 2.5% |
| Freeport | 2.90 | 42.4 | 4.5% | 3.7% | 7.0% | 1982 | $1,061 | 22.9% | 95.7% | 2.1% |
| Lowell | 2.52 | 42.8 | 8.4% | 17.7% | 4.5% | 1984 | $1,602 | 40.0% | 94.7% | 1.3% |
| Middleville | 2.82 | 37.7 | 8.8% | 9.4% | 8.2% | 1990 | $1,112 | 29.0% | 93.6% | 2.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Sunset Hills, MO · Maplewood, MO · Sugarmill Woods, FL · Mammoth Lakes, CA · Cape Elizabeth, ME · Madisonville, TX · Capistrano Beach, CA · Sumrall, MS · Libby, MT · Camilla, GA
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 Alto. 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.
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