Population 12,046 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Alva
Household size in Alva
| Period | Alva | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.73 | 2.58 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.89 | 2.72 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.02 | 2.76 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.79 | 2.59 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | +0.00 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Alva holds 2.79 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has crept up from 2.73 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the center and smallest in the north.
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 Alva
| Period | Alva | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.0 | 44.0 | 40.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 49.1 | 46.2 | 42.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.2 | 48.3 | 43.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.7 | 48.5 | 43.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.7 | +4.5 | +2.7 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 47.7, Alva is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 43.0 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the southeast and oldest in the north.
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 Alva
| Period | Alva | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.4% | 11.1% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 12.0% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.7% | 10.2% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 9.5% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −9.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Alva: 5.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 9.4 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Alva has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Florida cities.
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 Alva
Renters in Alva
| Period | Alva | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.0% | 25.2% | 30.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.8% | 30.7% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.0% | 27.7% | 34.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 11.0% | 25.7% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | +0.5 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 11.0% of households in Alva rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. More than a third of owners (36.7%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 4.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Of the 512 Florida cities with 5,000+ people, only 41 have a lower share of renters.
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 Alva
| Period | Alva | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.7% | 29.1% | 17.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.4% | 29.5% | 17.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.5% | 24.8% | 15.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.6% | 19.9% | 12.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −13.1 pts | −9.2 pts | −4.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Alva as nationally: 10.6%, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in the Fort Myers area overall (19.9%). Vacancy has fallen 13.1 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Alva
| Period | Alva | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1991 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1994 | 1992 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1995 | 1993 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2009 | 1997 | 1989 | 1980 |
| Change | +22 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Alva is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 2009, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1987 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the north has the oldest housing. Only ten of the 512 Florida cities with 5,000+ people have newer homes.
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 Alva
| Period | Alva | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $954 | $1,077 | $1,092 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $939 | $1,041 | $1,123 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,005 | $1,298 | $1,323 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,132 | $1,840 | $1,816 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,178 | +$763 | +$724 | +$606 |
The median renter in Alva pays $2,132 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,178 a month since 2006–10, up 124%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 37.5% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southeast; the highest are in the southwest.
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 Alva
Bachelor's degrees in Alva
| Period | Alva | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.4% | 24.2% | 26.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.8% | 25.3% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.7% | 28.0% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.0% | 31.3% | 34.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +17.6 pts | +7.0 pts | +8.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Alva as nationally: 37.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is higher than in the wider Fort Myers area (31.3%). The share with a degree has risen 17.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Alva
| Period | Alva | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.0% | 86.4% | 85.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.3% | 86.8% | 86.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.3% | 88.3% | 88.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.1% | 90.2% | 90.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.1 pts | +3.7 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Alva is above the national rate: 94.1% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 10.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Alva
| Period | Alva | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 9.9% | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 11.8% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 5.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 4.1% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.0 pts | −5.9 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Alva runs below the national rate: 4.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 6.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. 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).
Alva 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alva | 2.79 | 47.7 | 5.0% | 11.0% | 10.6% | 2009 | $2,132 | 37.0% | 94.1% | 4.6% |
| Fort Myers Shores | 2.74 | 41.7 | 9.2% | 46.2% | 13.3% | 1980 | $1,661 | 19.2% | 80.5% | 4.5% |
| Lehigh Acres | 3.44 | 35.5 | 16.8% | 29.8% | 7.8% | 2000 | $1,705 | 14.8% | 81.6% | 4.3% |
| Labelle | 2.84 | 38.3 | 14.6% | 24.3% | 14.1% | 1992 | $1,350 | 13.8% | 65.3% | 3.8% |
| North Fort Myers | 2.26 | 55.4 | 10.4% | 16.5% | 21.0% | 1986 | $1,496 | 23.0% | 87.6% | 5.0% |
| Port Labelle | 3.03 | 29.7 | 33.0% | 16.9% | 9.9% | 2005 | $994 | 15.9% | 70.4% | 4.5% |
| Cape Coral | 2.66 | 48.1 | 9.2% | 22.6% | 16.2% | 1998 | $1,955 | 26.6% | 93.0% | 4.1% |
| Pioneer | 2.18 | 52.0 | 4.5% | 0.0% | 15.7% | 2004 | $1,221 | 6.1% | 78.2% | 0.0% |
| Bokeelia | 2.42 | 49.1 | 5.5% | 16.2% | 34.2% | 1990 | $1,240 | 30.7% | 80.9% | 3.8% |
| Moore Haven | 2.59 | 46.1 | 13.1% | 18.6% | 18.6% | 1994 | $838 | 11.7% | 72.7% | 5.0% |
| Pineland | 1.48 | 37.1 | 7.7% | 0.0% | 97.6% | 1987 | $1,712 | 71.8% | 72.9% | 0.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Poplarville, MS · Old Orchard Beach, ME · Edgemere, MD · Washington, IA · Orefield, PA · Douglas, MA · Weldon Spring, MO · Wellsville, NY · Davisburg, MI · Wernersville, PA
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 Alva. 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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