Population 1,904 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Alton
Household size in Alton
| Period | Alton | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.62 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.31 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.16 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.61 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
At 2.61 people per household, Alton sits close to the national average of 2.65.
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 Alton
| Period | Alton | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.2 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 49.1 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 51.3 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.9 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.7 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Alton skews older: half of its residents are older than 47.9, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 44.2 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 Alton
| Period | Alton | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 2.8% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 16.1% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Alton: 16.1% of all households, against 11.6% nationally.
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 Alton
Renters in Alton
| Period | Alton | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.5% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.6% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.3% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +11.1 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 22.3% of households in Alton rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 49.3% have no mortgage at all, 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 Alton
| Period | Alton | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.0% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.2% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.4% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +10.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 18.4% of the housing in Alton, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
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 Alton
| Period | Alton | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | −1 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Alton is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1985, against 1980 nationally. Virginia as a whole looks much the same.
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 Alton
| Period | Alton | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $549 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $533 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $698 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $849 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$300 | +$600 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Alton costs $849 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 25.8% 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 Alton
Bachelor's degrees in Alton
| Period | Alton | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.4% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.0% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.3% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.8 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Alton: 23.3% 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 Alton
| Period | Alton | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 74.9% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 81.6% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.0% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.5% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +14.6 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Alton have finished high school as nationally: 89.5%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Virginia as a whole (91.6%).
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 Alton
| Period | Alton | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.2% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.5% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Alton has been strong: just 2.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Alton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alton | 2.61 | 47.9 | 16.1% | 22.3% | 18.4% | 1985 | $849 | 23.3% | 89.5% | 2.5% |
| Danripple | 2.57 | 52.2 | 14.4% | 22.6% | 15.5% | 1988 | $794 | 23.4% | 90.7% | 2.0% |
| Harmony | 2.57 | 51.2 | 16.7% | 21.3% | 13.3% | 1991 | $766 | 23.2% | 90.2% | 2.7% |
| Denniston | 2.65 | 42.8 | 23.2% | 16.6% | 14.3% | 1992 | $807 | 22.7% | 87.6% | 4.6% |
| Paces | 2.66 | 43.2 | 8.4% | 29.7% | 34.0% | 1963 | $1,126 | 26.1% | 89.1% | 0.0% |
| Cluster Springs | 2.50 | 46.2 | 17.4% | 20.9% | 15.6% | 1986 | $849 | 20.0% | 87.0% | 2.8% |
| McGehees Mill | 1.86 | 62.2 | 0.8% | 13.1% | 47.3% | 1984 | $934 | 41.0% | 96.9% | 6.5% |
| Hyco | 2.61 | 43.6 | 8.7% | 28.6% | 31.2% | 1965 | $1,114 | 27.6% | 88.8% | 0.0% |
| Semora | 2.01 | 60.4 | 2.1% | 13.8% | 41.1% | 1985 | $892 | 39.3% | 93.4% | 5.8% |
| Elmo | 2.52 | 44.8 | 9.3% | 26.5% | 24.8% | 1970 | $1,088 | 31.1% | 88.3% | 0.0% |
| Mayo | 2.65 | 42.8 | 23.2% | 16.6% | 14.3% | 1992 | $807 | 22.7% | 87.6% | 4.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Niland, CA · Grand Ronde, OR · Grantham, NC · Saxapahaw, NC · South Dos Palos, CA · Raymond, NE · Ninnekah, OK · Sacramento, KY · Fallon Naval Air Station, NV · Ridgedale, MO
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 Alton. 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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