Population 3,275 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West Blocton
Household size in West Blocton
| Period | West Blocton | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.09 | 2.56 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.04 | 2.59 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.83 | 2.59 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.01 | 2.57 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.08 | +0.01 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in West Blocton are large by national standards, averaging 3.01 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home.
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 West Blocton
| Period | West Blocton | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.2 | 37.9 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.3 | 39.1 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.5 | 39.9 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.9 | 40.0 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.3 | +2.1 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in West Blocton are younger than 39.9 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 West Blocton
| Period | West Blocton | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 12.1% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 12.0% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.5% | 11.2% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 12.0% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in West Blocton: 6.9% 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 West Blocton
Renters in West Blocton
| Period | West Blocton | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 27.9% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.0% | 30.4% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.1% | 30.6% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 12.8% | 29.2% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +1.3 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
West Blocton is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 12.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About six in ten owners (60.1%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 3.1 points from 2006–10, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 West Blocton
| Period | West Blocton | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.6% | 12.5% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.0% | 12.8% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 28.6% | 13.6% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.8% | 11.6% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
More homes sit empty in West Blocton than nationally: 12.8%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. The Birmingham area as a whole looks much the same.
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 West Blocton
| Period | West Blocton | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1979 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1981 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1982 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1993 | 1984 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +12 | +5 | +6 | +6 |
West Blocton has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1993, 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 West Blocton
| Period | West Blocton | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $462 | $827 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $625 | $903 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $707 | $984 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $757 | $1,238 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$295 | +$412 | +$375 | +$606 |
Rent in West Blocton runs $757 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 39.7% of household income on rent, 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 West Blocton
Bachelor's degrees in West Blocton
| Period | West Blocton | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 28.3% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.3% | 29.1% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 31.1% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 34.7% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | +6.4 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in West Blocton: 8.3% 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 West Blocton
| Period | West Blocton | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 73.9% | 85.7% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 81.5% | 86.8% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 74.9% | 88.9% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.1% | 90.5% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +14.2 pts | +4.9 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in West Blocton is close to the national rate: 88.1% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the wider Birmingham area (90.5%).
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 West Blocton
| Period | West Blocton | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 8.0% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 17.2% | 9.2% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 5.9% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.0% | 4.4% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | −3.6 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in West Blocton: 13.0% 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).
West Blocton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Blocton | 3.01 | 39.9 | 6.9% | 12.8% | 12.8% | 1993 | $757 | 8.3% | 88.1% | 13.0% |
| Smith Hill | 2.65 | 38.6 | 7.4% | 16.4% | 9.4% | 1992 | $853 | 9.3% | 88.4% | 6.1% |
| Primitive Ridge | 3.24 | 41.0 | 5.0% | 10.5% | 10.1% | 1991 | $706 | 4.7% | 86.4% | 21.0% |
| Woodstock | 2.89 | 41.5 | 10.1% | 14.1% | 12.9% | 1999 | $1,171 | 22.2% | 88.3% | 8.3% |
| Vernontown | 3.04 | 40.7 | 4.2% | 8.8% | 13.2% | 1992 | $749 | 12.5% | 92.4% | 11.5% |
| Green Pond | 3.29 | 40.2 | 13.8% | 19.9% | 24.3% | 1999 | $1,019 | 17.0% | 86.8% | 14.8% |
| Vance | 2.91 | 34.0 | 12.0% | 10.0% | 10.2% | 2002 | $1,229 | 20.1% | 89.0% | 1.4% |
| Marvel | 2.90 | 43.8 | 3.9% | 9.6% | 15.1% | 1998 | $871 | 10.8% | 86.8% | 2.7% |
| Giles | 3.01 | 36.4 | 8.2% | 7.2% | 3.0% | 2001 | $1,075 | 11.1% | 78.2% | 1.5% |
| Kimbrell | 2.82 | 42.5 | 5.3% | 6.7% | 13.9% | 1997 | $1,554 | 25.6% | 95.3% | 1.7% |
| Six Mile | 2.53 | 41.1 | 12.8% | 16.8% | 4.2% | 1995 | $521 | 4.5% | 72.9% | 17.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Litchfield, OH · Pleak, TX · Pleasant Valley, WV · Pocasset, MA · Sagamore Beach, MA · Munising, MI · Seale, AL · Magnolia Springs, FL · Lomira, WI · Kingsville, MO
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 West Blocton. 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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