Population 2,705 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Sylvania
Household size in Sylvania
| Period | Sylvania | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.79 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.90 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.70 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.66 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.13 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
At 2.66 people per household, Sylvania sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in Alabama as a whole, where it has 2.56 people. Household size has dropped from 2.79 in 2006–10, 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 Sylvania
| Period | Sylvania | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.8 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.7 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.6 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 44.7, Sylvania is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
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 Sylvania
| Period | Sylvania | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.8% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are more common in Sylvania than nationally: 13.8%, against 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 Sylvania
Renters in Sylvania
| Period | Sylvania | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.4% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.4% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.0% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Sylvania is overwhelmingly 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. Nearly two-thirds of owners (64.6%) have paid off their mortgages, 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 Sylvania
| Period | Sylvania | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.8% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.9% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.0% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Sylvania is close to the national rate: 10.0% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. 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 Sylvania
| Period | Sylvania | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1989 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +6 | +6 |
Sylvania has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1989, versus 1980 nationally. That is in line with the rest of Alabama.
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 Sylvania
| Period | Sylvania | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $711 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $646 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $654 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $677 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | −$34 | +$375 | +$606 |
Rent in Sylvania runs $677 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 28.6% 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 Sylvania
Bachelor's degrees in Sylvania
| Period | Sylvania | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.0% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.5% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.0 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Sylvania: 20.5% 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 Sylvania
| Period | Sylvania | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 72.5% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.7% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 78.9% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 84.3% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +11.8 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in six adults in Sylvania never finished high school, more than nationally: 84.3% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S.
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 Sylvania
| Period | Sylvania | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.7 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Sylvania has been low: just 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 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).
Sylvania 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvania | 2.66 | 44.7 | 13.8% | 15.0% | 10.0% | 1989 | $677 | 20.5% | 84.3% | 3.1% |
| Rainsville | 2.42 | 43.8 | 9.3% | 13.9% | 10.1% | 1989 | $663 | 21.3% | 89.2% | 1.2% |
| Powell | 2.55 | 40.3 | 17.4% | 24.1% | 11.9% | 1982 | $831 | 10.6% | 85.1% | 3.1% |
| Powells Crossroads | 2.48 | 43.6 | 9.7% | 15.6% | 8.6% | 1980 | $686 | 14.2% | 93.0% | 0.9% |
| Henagar | 2.92 | 38.0 | 9.1% | 22.9% | 16.3% | 1984 | $892 | 12.0% | 83.3% | 3.9% |
| Dutton | 2.88 | 39.8 | 13.1% | 23.1% | 9.9% | 1993 | $763 | 15.2% | 82.7% | 4.2% |
| Shiloh | 2.67 | 39.5 | 3.0% | 11.7% | 14.3% | 1988 | $681 | 12.8% | 94.8% | 0.9% |
| Pine Ridge | 2.84 | 39.5 | 7.3% | 25.4% | 9.5% | 1981 | $737 | 15.7% | 79.5% | 2.8% |
| Pisgah | 2.30 | 48.7 | 5.2% | 21.7% | 14.1% | 1988 | $826 | 18.5% | 86.3% | 3.1% |
| Valley Head | 2.65 | 41.2 | 5.6% | 20.1% | 21.7% | 1986 | $845 | 17.2% | 81.1% | 5.7% |
| Fort Payne | 2.70 | 38.2 | 13.3% | 25.8% | 14.7% | 1980 | $716 | 17.7% | 79.1% | 5.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Belle, MO · Iberia, MO · Grove Hill, AL · Garysburg, NC · Dutton, AL · Deposit, NY · Damascus, VA · Dale, IN · Chesterfield, IN · Chackbay, 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 Sylvania. 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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