Population 249 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Thurston
Household size in Thurston
| Period | Thurston | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.32 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.28 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.87 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.37 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Thurston is a place of small households, averaging 2.37 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children.
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 Thurston
| Period | Thurston | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.9 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.4 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.2 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.5 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −3.4 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 44.5, Thurston is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 47.9, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 Thurston
| Period | Thurston | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 15.6% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Thurston: 7.6% 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 Thurston
Renters in Thurston
| Period | Thurston | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.1% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.8% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.1% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 34.6% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a third of households in Thurston rent their homes (34.6%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in Alabama overall (29.8%). Just over four in ten owners (42.1%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally.
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 Thurston
| Period | Thurston | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.9% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.7% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.2% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Thurston: 11.2% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Even so, the rate is lower than in Alabama overall (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 Thurston
| Period | Thurston | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | −1 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Thurston 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 Thurston
| Period | Thurston | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $585 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $329 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $557 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $475 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | −$110 | +$375 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Thurston costs $475 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 27.7% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Thurston
Bachelor's degrees in Thurston
| Period | Thurston | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.6% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.1% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.8% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.2 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Thurston: 20.8% 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 Thurston
| Period | Thurston | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.2% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.9% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 80.7% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 74.8% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | −7.3 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About a quarter of adults in Thurston never finished high school, well above the national share: only 74.8% 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 Thurston
| Period | Thurston | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 0.9% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.8% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Thurston has been strong: just 2.8% 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).
Thurston 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thurston | 2.37 | 44.5 | 7.6% | 34.6% | 11.2% | 1974 | $475 | 20.8% | 74.8% | 2.8% |
| Geneva | 2.84 | 48.2 | 18.0% | 22.7% | 13.0% | 1984 | $648 | 14.2% | 80.5% | 8.4% |
| Coffee Springs | 2.27 | 46.3 | 3.7% | 9.6% | 26.1% | 1976 | $925 | 15.4% | 85.7% | 4.9% |
| Chancellor | 2.31 | 42.2 | 4.9% | 17.2% | 12.8% | 1993 | $917 | 24.4% | 87.6% | 3.9% |
| Marl | 2.33 | 51.1 | 5.5% | 11.3% | 22.3% | 1986 | $794 | 11.1% | 81.0% | 5.0% |
| Bellwood | 2.04 | 45.2 | 4.3% | 26.5% | 15.8% | 1988 | $653 | 21.9% | 89.2% | 3.0% |
| Black | 2.79 | 39.7 | 2.2% | 13.8% | 25.9% | 1985 | $824 | 11.3% | 97.2% | 0.4% |
| Sellersville | 2.33 | 44.8 | 4.4% | 10.5% | 21.7% | 1979 | $917 | 17.6% | 86.5% | 4.2% |
| Highbluff | 2.38 | 43.7 | 5.9% | 24.7% | 10.4% | 1985 | $817 | 14.9% | 98.1% | 5.0% |
| Samson | 2.31 | 48.1 | 9.3% | 27.4% | 20.4% | 1978 | $761 | 9.8% | 80.3% | 8.1% |
| Royals Crossroads | 2.81 | 42.8 | 19.0% | 13.3% | 17.3% | 1981 | $837 | 20.7% | 94.9% | 1.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Elba Center, IL · Lynville, MS · Stringtown, IA · Strawberry, AZ · Strauss, KS · Emington, IL · Elmwood, MO · Ellisville, AL · Elk Creek, NE · Eldena, IL
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 Thurston. 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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