Population 8,435 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Cottondale
Household size in Cottondale
| Period | Cottondale | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.70 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.73 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.76 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.56 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.13 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Cottondale has 2.56 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.70, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the south and smallest in the west.
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 Cottondale
| Period | Cottondale | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.6 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.2 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.2 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.2 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.6 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Cottondale are younger than 39.2 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 35.6 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Cottondale
| Period | Cottondale | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.2% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Cottondale (9.9%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 0.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Cottondale
Renters in Cottondale
| Period | Cottondale | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.4% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.6% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.1% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.0% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −7.3 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Cottondale is largely a place of homeowners: only 15.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over four in ten owners (41.2%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 7.3 points, even as the national share rose.
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 Cottondale
| Period | Cottondale | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.8% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.7% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.7% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 16.7% of the housing in Cottondale, 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. Vacancy is up 3.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Cottondale
| Period | Cottondale | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +6 |
Cottondale has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1991, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1986 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 Cottondale
| Period | Cottondale | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $639 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $785 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $864 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,085 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$446 | +$375 | +$606 |
The median renter in Cottondale pays $1,085 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $446 a month since 2006–10, up 70%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 24.8% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Cottondale
Bachelor's degrees in Cottondale
| Period | Cottondale | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.4% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.7% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.2% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.9% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Cottondale: 23.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 3.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Cottondale
| Period | Cottondale | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.6% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.5% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.0% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.0% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.4 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Cottondale is close to the national rate: 90.0% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 9.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Cottondale
| Period | Cottondale | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.6% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.9% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Cottondale has been low: just 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.2 points, as it has nationally. 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).
Cottondale 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottondale | 2.56 | 39.2 | 9.9% | 15.0% | 16.7% | 1991 | $1,085 | 23.9% | 90.0% | 3.2% |
| Howton | 2.53 | 36.9 | 12.5% | 36.4% | 14.1% | 1995 | $1,062 | 6.2% | 87.8% | 11.2% |
| Holt | 3.01 | 34.9 | 13.0% | 33.3% | 18.8% | 1978 | $1,442 | 32.1% | 87.7% | 2.7% |
| Coaling | 3.16 | 35.9 | 13.7% | 11.4% | 5.8% | 2000 | $1,142 | 13.9% | 90.5% | 9.4% |
| Fleetwood | 2.29 | 41.5 | 4.9% | 8.0% | 20.7% | 2000 | $1,126 | 25.3% | 86.8% | 0.6% |
| Duncanville | 2.48 | 38.9 | 8.8% | 20.6% | 13.6% | 1994 | $1,170 | 13.6% | 84.5% | 4.4% |
| Tuscaloosa | 2.37 | 32.3 | 12.8% | 53.1% | 17.1% | 1989 | $1,178 | 37.5% | 90.6% | 8.5% |
| Hagler | 2.59 | 39.0 | 9.1% | 3.6% | 13.0% | 2002 | $1,126 | 10.6% | 92.4% | 4.4% |
| Brookwood | 2.60 | 36.9 | 12.6% | 9.8% | 13.7% | 1997 | $1,423 | 20.1% | 90.8% | 2.5% |
| East Brookwood | 2.52 | 38.4 | 10.3% | 16.3% | 11.6% | 1987 | $882 | 29.7% | 91.5% | 0.0% |
| Northport | 2.56 | 38.9 | 8.0% | 31.1% | 7.4% | 1993 | $1,024 | 35.8% | 93.7% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Clarence Center, NY · Castroville, CA · Stafford Springs, CT · St. Pete Beach, FL · St. Pauls, NC · St. Francis, MN · Cheat Lake, WV · Chesapeake Beach, MD · Chester, NJ · St. Augustine Shores, FL
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 Cottondale. 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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