Population 311 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Water Valley
Household size in Water Valley
| Period | Water Valley | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.11 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.67 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.57 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.71 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.40 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Water Valley average 2.71 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 dropped from 3.11, 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 Water Valley
| Period | Water Valley | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.2 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.4 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.2 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.9 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +9.7 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Water Valley skews older: half of its residents are older than 49.9, 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 Water Valley
| Period | Water Valley | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.6% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.4% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 18.2% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.8% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | +10.3 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Water Valley: 15.8% of all 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 Water Valley
Renters in Water Valley
| Period | Water Valley | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 0.8% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.0% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.9% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 3.4% of households in Water Valley rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About three-quarters of owners (72.8%) 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 Water Valley
| Period | Water Valley | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.3% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.2% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 36.6% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.1% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −10.2 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Water Valley: 34.1% 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 Water Valley
| Period | Water Valley | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1983 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Water Valley are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1983, versus 1980 nationally.
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 Water Valley
| Period | Water Valley | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $542 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $465 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $625 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $547 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$5 | +$375 | +$606 |
The median renter in Water Valley pays $547 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 23.8% of the typical renter's income, comfortably 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 Water Valley
Bachelor's degrees in Water Valley
| Period | Water Valley | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.3% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 10.9% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.0% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Water Valley: 11.0% 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 Water Valley
| Period | Water Valley | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 71.1% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 64.2% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.5% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 81.7% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.6 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than one in six adults in Water Valley never finished high school, well above the national share: only 81.7% 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 Water Valley
| Period | Water Valley | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 0.6% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Water Valley: 7.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above 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).
Water Valley 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Valley | 2.71 | 49.9 | 15.8% | 3.4% | 34.1% | 1983 | $547 | 11.0% | 81.7% | 7.9% |
| Melvin | 2.38 | 48.9 | 11.4% | 6.3% | 24.0% | 1981 | $547 | 11.3% | 81.5% | 9.7% |
| Needham | 2.21 | 48.4 | 9.2% | 7.4% | 19.0% | 1980 | $547 | 11.4% | 81.5% | 10.6% |
| Gilbertown | 2.36 | 43.8 | 10.1% | 13.9% | 28.7% | 1988 | $747 | 11.8% | 88.9% | 2.2% |
| Souwilpa | 2.55 | 42.8 | 4.8% | 12.3% | 24.6% | 1982 | $539 | 19.6% | 88.5% | 3.0% |
| Land | 2.21 | 48.4 | 9.2% | 7.4% | 19.0% | 1980 | $547 | 11.4% | 81.5% | 10.6% |
| Crandall | 2.04 | 58.0 | 12.7% | 3.0% | 20.5% | 1986 | $760 | 7.9% | 91.1% | 0.0% |
| Toxey | 2.22 | 47.1 | 12.9% | 13.2% | 26.0% | 1982 | $600 | 12.4% | 82.2% | 5.7% |
| Matherville | 1.97 | 41.6 | 20.3% | 11.6% | 25.3% | 1988 | $764 | 15.8% | 91.6% | 0.0% |
| Hodgewood | 2.10 | 41.5 | 24.2% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 1995 | $547 | 1.4% | 68.4% | 0.0% |
| Wimberly | 2.30 | 40.3 | 7.7% | 13.0% | 29.4% | 1987 | $968 | 13.6% | 93.5% | 1.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Hunters, WA · Johnsville, TX · Johnstonville, GA · Jewett, NY · Jamestown, KS · Ironton, MI · Irondale, VA · Iona, NJ · Inguadona, MN · Ingold, NC
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 Water Valley. 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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