Population 23,682 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Winston County
Household size in Winston County
| Period | Winston County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.55 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.52 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.44 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.53 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Winston County has 2.53 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Alabama as a whole looks much the same. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the center.
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 Winston County
| Period | Winston County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.5 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.7 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.1 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.1 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.7 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Winston County is 43.1 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has crept up from 42.5 in 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Winston County
| Period | Winston County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Winston County than nationally: 9.9%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 2.1 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Winston County has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Alabama counties.
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 Winston County
Renters in Winston County
| Period | Winston County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.2% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.4% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.6% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.2% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 24.2% of households in Winston County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About six in ten owners (61.0%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the northwest and least common in the east. The renter share has fallen 2.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Winston County
| Period | Winston County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.8% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.7% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 27.4% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.5% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 24.5% of the housing in Winston County, 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. Vacancy is down 1.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Winston County
| Period | Winston County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Winston County is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1978 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the northwest.
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 Winston County
| Period | Winston County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $454 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $534 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $547 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $828 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$374 | +$375 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Winston County costs $828 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $374 a month since 2006–10, up 82%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 25.4% 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 Winston County
Bachelor's degrees in Winston County
| Period | Winston County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.4% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.9% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.1% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Winston County: 14.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 2.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Winston County has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five Alabama counties.
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 Winston County
| Period | Winston County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 70.0% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 74.2% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 78.9% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 77.7% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.7 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than one in five adults in Winston County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 77.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 7.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only one other Alabama county has a lower share of high school graduates.
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 Winston County
| Period | Winston County | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.5% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Winston County runs below the national rate: 3.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.6 points, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Winston County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winston County | 2.53 | 43.1 | 9.9% | 24.2% | 24.5% | 1986 | $828 | 14.1% | 77.7% | 3.8% |
| Marion County | 2.75 | 43.5 | 9.7% | 23.2% | 24.1% | 1979 | $661 | 13.7% | 83.4% | 5.5% |
| Cullman County | 2.58 | 40.9 | 11.2% | 23.4% | 10.9% | 1988 | $993 | 19.7% | 86.4% | 4.2% |
| Itawamba County | 2.42 | 39.5 | 10.1% | 21.0% | 10.3% | 1985 | $829 | 16.3% | 87.6% | 4.9% |
| Lee County | 2.57 | 38.2 | 12.2% | 29.2% | 13.3% | 1987 | $960 | 27.7% | 87.0% | 5.2% |
| Etowah County | 2.62 | 42.4 | 12.3% | 26.1% | 16.5% | 1977 | $928 | 18.0% | 85.4% | 6.3% |
| Pontotoc County | 2.65 | 36.4 | 11.3% | 30.2% | 16.1% | 1989 | $880 | 18.6% | 78.9% | 3.1% |
| Cherokee County | 2.57 | 47.6 | 7.8% | 18.9% | 28.9% | 1984 | $851 | 17.1% | 82.5% | 4.4% |
| Floyd County | 2.66 | 38.5 | 14.0% | 36.4% | 10.7% | 1978 | $1,016 | 26.6% | 84.2% | 4.1% |
| Polk County | 2.79 | 38.9 | 17.6% | 34.0% | 9.4% | 1983 | $983 | 15.9% | 85.4% | 5.5% |
| Yalobusha County | 2.48 | 42.6 | 14.7% | 30.7% | 20.1% | 1980 | $718 | 16.5% | 82.8% | 5.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Allamakee County, IA · Seminole County, OK · Scott County, VA · Scott County, IN · Seward County, KS · Atoka County, OK · Attala County, MS · Shelby County, TX · Allen County, KY · Alleghany County, VA
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 Winston County. 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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