Population 2,452 · 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 Cottonwood: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Cottonwood
Household size in Cottonwood
| Period | Cottonwood | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.67 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.57 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.70 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.39 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.27 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Cottonwood are small: just 2.39 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.67, 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 Cottonwood
| Period | Cottonwood | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.5 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.6 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.5 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.8 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +8.3 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Cottonwood skews older: half of its residents are older than 47.8, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
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 Cottonwood
| Period | Cottonwood | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.1% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.9% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in twelve households in Cottonwood (8.9%), 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 Cottonwood
Renters in Cottonwood
| Period | Cottonwood | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.9% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.2% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.3% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.5% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 24.5% of households in Cottonwood rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 59.3% have no mortgage at all, 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 Cottonwood
| Period | Cottonwood | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.6% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.4% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.9% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.8% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 17.8% of the housing in Cottonwood, 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 Cottonwood
| Period | Cottonwood | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1982 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1982 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | −0 | +6 | +6 |
The typical home in Cottonwood was built around 1982, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980).
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 Cottonwood
| Period | Cottonwood | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $486 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $600 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $612 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $756 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$270 | +$375 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Cottonwood costs $756 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 28.3% of household income on rent, just 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 Cottonwood
Bachelor's degrees in Cottonwood
| Period | Cottonwood | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.1% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.1% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Cottonwood: 9.1% 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 Cottonwood
| Period | Cottonwood | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 75.8% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.5% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 81.9% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 81.3% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in five adults in Cottonwood never finished high school, well above the national share: only 81.3% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% 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 Cottonwood
| Period | Cottonwood | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.5% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.5% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Cottonwood than nationally: unemployment was 6.5%, against 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).
Cottonwood 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood | 2.39 | 47.8 | 8.9% | 24.5% | 17.8% | 1982 | $756 | 9.1% | 81.3% | 6.5% |
| Sealy Springs | 2.42 | 46.1 | 11.3% | 25.2% | 21.6% | 1979 | $609 | 8.1% | 78.6% | 9.0% |
| Madrid | 2.62 | 37.6 | 8.8% | 26.1% | 21.3% | 1994 | $1,049 | 17.8% | 85.3% | 2.1% |
| Dupree | 2.56 | 47.2 | 8.3% | 22.4% | 17.2% | 1987 | $711 | 13.9% | 87.4% | 2.7% |
| Grangeburg | 2.29 | 45.6 | 9.0% | 21.6% | 19.0% | 1986 | $726 | 7.8% | 81.0% | 9.8% |
| Fadette | 2.45 | 41.2 | 15.2% | 35.9% | 12.3% | 1993 | $936 | 12.0% | 75.5% | 2.8% |
| State Line | 2.74 | 35.0 | 3.5% | 20.6% | 28.7% | 1995 | $1,111 | 22.7% | 94.4% | 1.9% |
| Sills | 2.71 | 43.9 | 8.9% | 14.2% | 14.0% | 1981 | $778 | 5.7% | 68.4% | 2.1% |
| Avon | 2.54 | 42.6 | 13.3% | 25.2% | 12.1% | 1990 | $866 | 14.6% | 86.7% | 5.0% |
| Ashford | 2.52 | 43.0 | 11.2% | 25.4% | 14.1% | 1986 | $854 | 15.1% | 85.8% | 3.2% |
| Campbellton | 2.88 | 43.5 | 7.4% | 14.3% | 23.0% | 1985 | $988 | 8.0% | 74.2% | 2.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Carrington, ND · Woodbury, GA · Nokomis, IL · Albany, WI · Oldtown, ID · Kendall, NY · Seaside Heights, NJ · Silver Lake, OH · St. Stephen, MN · Tunnelton, WV
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 Cottonwood. 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.