Altoona: Demographics & People
About 1,252 people live in Altoona, in 454 households. Population grew 3.4% from 1,211 (2022) to 1,252 (2024). Median age 40.9 years. (0.8y younger than Etowah County; 1.6y older than Alabama). Children under 18 are 14% of the population. Population is 92% White (non-Hispanic) and 6% Hispanic or Latino. 70% of households are family-led. County is gaining 608 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 37% adult obesity, 20% smoke.
- 2.8 people per household (vs Alabama avg 2.5).
- 30% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Alabama 39%).
- 53 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Alabama 67).
Population & Trend
Population grew 3.4% from 1,211 (2022) to 1,252 (2024) — about 5.7× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~1,294 (extrapolated at 1.7%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,353.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| County Population | 59,134 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 3.4% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,211 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 1,252 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 1,252 people (vs Alabama 26,673) |
| Population Estimate | 1,353 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 40.9y is 2.0 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 14% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 40.9 years (vs Alabama 37.3y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 13.5% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 1,252 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 169 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 219 |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 601 |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 263 |
| Population under 18 | 169 |
| Median age | 40.9 years (vs Alabama 37.3y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 1,252 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| White residents | 1,154 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 15 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 57 |
| Diversity Index · Simpson Index | 14.8% |
| Diversity Index · Interpretation | less diverse |
| Black population | 20.0% (vs Alabama 28.6%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 6.4% (vs Alabama 4.8%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 92.3% (vs Alabama 57.1%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Sources: Census ACS 2022 B04006+B03001+B02001
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 828 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 404 |
| Share born in this state | 66.1% |
| Share born in another state | 33.9% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 32.3% |
| Naturalized citizens | 1.6% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 19 |
Households & Family Composition
454 households. Averaging 2.5 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 70% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 300 families, 12% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 151 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 300 |
| Married couples with children | 35 |
| Average household size | 2.54 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 19.5% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 41 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 41 |
| Family households | 317 households (vs Alabama 7,066) |
| Households that are families | 69.8% (vs Alabama 61.2%) |
| Total households | 454 households (vs Alabama 10,925) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 6.6% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 608 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 6.6% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 51,305 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 50,697 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 608 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 65 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 5.0% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 40 residents live in group quarters (3.2% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 40 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 104 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 01009 |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 01 |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 009 |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · County | Blount |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 25.7 per 1,000 |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 22.30 |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 29.50 |
| County Cdc Mortality · Fips | 01009 |
| County Cdc Mortality · County | Blount County |
| County Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| County Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,830 |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 01009 |
| County Cdc Vaccination · County | Blount County |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 39.6% |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 32.9% |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 37.0% |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 57,826 |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 1.80 |
| Family Score · Schools | 1 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 13.5% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 1,252, growing, established, working-class, blue collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 1,252 people (vs Alabama 26,673) |
| Town Summary · County | Blount County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade