Population 49 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in McDowell
Household size in McDowell
| Period | McDowell | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.40 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.60 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.80 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.69 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.29 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in McDowell average 2.69 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in Alabama overall, where it has 2.56 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.40, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 McDowell
| Period | McDowell | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.7 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.2 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.1 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.0 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +9.2 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
McDowell skews older: half of its residents are older than 46.0, 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 McDowell
| Period | McDowell | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.8% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.9% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.4% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −10.9 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 3.9% of households in McDowell, well 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 McDowell
Renters in McDowell
| Period | McDowell | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.4% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.9% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.0% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 35.5% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in McDowell is about as common as it is nationally: 35.5% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in Alabama as a whole (29.8%). Among homeowners, 65.1% 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 McDowell
| Period | McDowell | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.7% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 32.6% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.6% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in McDowell is the same as the national rate: 9.6% of homes are empty. The rate is lower than in Alabama as a whole (13.5%).
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 McDowell
| Period | McDowell | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | −2 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in McDowell run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1974 against 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 McDowell
| Period | McDowell | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $672 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $667 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $607 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $760 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$88 | +$375 | +$606 |
A typical rental in McDowell costs $760 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 42.2% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 McDowell
Bachelor's degrees in McDowell
| Period | McDowell | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.9% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 31.0% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.6% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 41.5% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.6 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in McDowell than nationally: 41.5% 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 McDowell
| Period | McDowell | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.9% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.2% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.3% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.0% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.1 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in McDowell: 97.0% 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 McDowell
| Period | McDowell | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 1.6% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.0% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −8.9 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The survey found almost no one in McDowell out of work and looking, against 5.4% of the labor force 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).
McDowell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDowell | 2.69 | 46.0 | 3.9% | 35.5% | 9.6% | 1974 | $760 | 41.5% | 97.0% | 0.0% |
| Shortleaf | 2.20 | 52.2 | 2.1% | 18.8% | 34.7% | 1977 | $1,081 | 29.5% | 90.7% | 0.0% |
| Demopolis | 2.23 | 45.0 | 11.4% | 42.9% | 12.2% | 1976 | $703 | 26.5% | 91.3% | 1.2% |
| Jefferson | 3.44 | 48.9 | 9.9% | 0.1% | 13.5% | 1991 | $730 | 15.1% | 90.5% | 1.3% |
| Woodford | 2.85 | 42.6 | 2.8% | 24.2% | 26.6% | 1978 | $1,101 | 42.5% | 94.6% | 0.1% |
| Old Spring Hill | 2.76 | 37.0 | 19.7% | 18.0% | 22.5% | 1990 | $730 | 20.0% | 93.1% | 0.1% |
| Coatopa | 2.74 | 40.6 | 1.5% | 30.4% | 34.7% | 1978 | $1,279 | 44.0% | 93.8% | 0.0% |
| Gallion | 2.85 | 35.1 | 16.9% | 24.2% | 23.6% | 1989 | $694 | 23.4% | 92.8% | 2.0% |
| Brewersville | 2.26 | 26.8 | 8.9% | 34.1% | 21.2% | 1979 | $789 | 36.5% | 97.5% | 12.8% |
| Providence | 2.53 | 35.0 | 20.1% | 11.4% | 23.4% | 1983 | $798 | 14.0% | 81.9% | 0.6% |
| Prairieville | 2.76 | 45.0 | 12.8% | 3.5% | 27.6% | 1986 | $781 | 21.7% | 95.5% | 5.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Snyder, AR · Chalkyitsik, AK · Channel Lake, IL · Chapel Hill, AL · Charlottsville, PA · Chelford, AR · Chenega, AK · Chesterfield, ID · Sandy Pond, NY · Chopin, LA
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 McDowell. 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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