Population 1,613 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Dow
Household size in Dow
| Period | Dow | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.56 | 2.52 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.53 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.32 | 2.49 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.76 | 2.46 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.20 | −0.06 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in Dow average 2.76 people, a bit above the national 2.65, so families with children are somewhat more common here. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.56, 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 Dow
| Period | Dow | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.6 | 38.5 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.5 | 39.5 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.2 | 40.7 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.6 | 40.8 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +2.3 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Dow are younger than 40.6 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1.
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 Dow
| Period | Dow | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 11.7% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 11.5% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 11.0% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 11.1% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Dow: 4.5% of 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 Dow
Renters in Dow
| Period | Dow | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.0% | 28.3% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.8% | 30.1% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 31.1% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.5% | 29.6% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | +1.4 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Dow is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Nearly half of owners (47.0%) have paid off their mortgages, 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 Dow
| Period | Dow | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.4% | 9.6% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 10.1% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.5% | 10.1% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.9% | 8.8% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | −0.8 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Dow: 20.9% of homes are empty, 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 Dow
| Period | Dow | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1972 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1972 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1973 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1975 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | −0 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Dow is a place of older homes: half were built before 1970, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
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 Dow
| Period | Dow | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $803 | $825 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $827 | $920 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $839 | $1,010 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,199 | $1,239 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$396 | +$414 | +$475 | +$606 |
Rent in Dow runs $1,199 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. The picture is much the same across the St. Louis area. The typical renter here spends 20.1% 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 Dow
Bachelor's degrees in Dow
| Period | Dow | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.3% | 30.3% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.8% | 32.1% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.1% | 34.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.7% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.4 pts | +8.3 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Dow than nationally: 26.7% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 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 Dow
| Period | Dow | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.1% | 88.8% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.0% | 90.5% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.7% | 92.1% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.7% | 93.6% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.6 pts | +4.8 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Dow: 95.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 Dow
| Period | Dow | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.0% | 7.7% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 8.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.6% | 4.9% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 4.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in Dow: 7.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% 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).
Dow 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dow | 2.76 | 40.6 | 4.5% | 21.5% | 20.9% | 1970 | $1,199 | 26.7% | 95.7% | 7.0% |
| Elsah | 2.67 | 40.7 | 3.5% | 28.0% | 22.8% | 1976 | $1,142 | 33.3% | 97.5% | 4.7% |
| McClusky | 3.22 | 35.5 | 6.6% | 8.7% | 18.3% | 1978 | $880 | 16.3% | 97.9% | 2.8% |
| Portage Des Sioux | 2.53 | 45.2 | 4.9% | 11.4% | 17.8% | 1965 | $1,085 | 22.1% | 90.3% | 3.3% |
| Grafton | 2.24 | 55.6 | 2.8% | 15.0% | 36.8% | 1986 | $684 | 29.4% | 96.1% | 2.5% |
| Otterville | 2.10 | 53.8 | 6.1% | 18.4% | 30.7% | 1988 | $789 | 19.4% | 94.7% | 0.9% |
| Godfrey | 2.39 | 47.9 | 7.6% | 17.3% | 7.2% | 1976 | $1,147 | 31.6% | 95.1% | 4.2% |
| Jerseyville | 2.48 | 42.3 | 12.5% | 25.4% | 17.5% | 1968 | $868 | 20.8% | 91.6% | 1.6% |
| West Alton | 3.03 | 36.5 | 4.5% | 14.3% | 29.4% | 1960 | $1,375 | 22.5% | 92.8% | 5.0% |
| Orchard Farm | 2.12 | 50.0 | 2.1% | 4.5% | 16.4% | 1966 | $1,060 | 13.4% | 83.7% | 4.1% |
| Brighton | 2.70 | 42.7 | 6.8% | 10.0% | 13.9% | 1980 | $922 | 24.1% | 95.2% | 4.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Tubac, AZ · Frenstat, TX · Galena, MD · Givhans, SC · Granton, WI · Grovertown, IN · Hammond Crossroads, SC · Hector, AR · Highland, WI · Hill City, MN
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 Dow. 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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