Decatur: Demographics & People
Decatur is home to 57,361 people, in 23,722 households. Population shrank 0.7% from 57,760 (2022) to 57,361 (2024). Median age 39.7 years. Children under 18 are 24% of the population. Population is 56% White (non-Hispanic) and 23% Black. 58% of households are family-led. County is gaining 8,634 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 36% adult obesity, 16% smoke.
- 2.4 people per household (vs Alabama avg 2.5).
- 42% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Alabama 39%).
- 72 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Alabama 67).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.7% from 57,760 (2022) to 57,361 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~56,965 (extrapolated at -0.3%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 56,442.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| County Population | 103,570 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.7% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 57,760 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 57,361 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 57,361 people (vs Alabama 26,673) |
| Population Estimate | 56,442 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 39.7y is 0.8 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 24% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 39.7 years (vs Alabama 37.3y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 23.8% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 57,361 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 13,664 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 11,627 |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 21,714 |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 10,356 |
| Population under 18 | 13,664 |
| Median age | 39.7 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 57,361 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| White residents | 35,198 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 13,544 |
| Asian residents | 290 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 9,466 |
| Diversity Index · Simpson Index | 54.0% |
| Diversity Index · Interpretation | moderately diverse |
| Asian population | 80.0% (vs Alabama 1.4%) |
| Black population | 23.0% (vs Alabama 28.6%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 16.5% (vs Alabama 4.8%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 55.6% (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). 0.7% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 8% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 37,756 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 14,319 |
| Share born in this state | 65.8% |
| Share born in another state | 34.2% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 25.0% |
| Foreign-born residents | 70.0% |
| Naturalized citizens | 8.5% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 4,479 |
| From Europe | 205 |
| From Asia | 47 |
| From Africa | 1,106 |
Households & Family Composition
23,722 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 58% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 14,257 families, 21% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 13,523 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 14,257 |
| Married couples with children | 3,002 |
| Single-parent households | 516 |
| Average household size | 2.36 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 15.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 1,208 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 658 |
| Family households | 13,832 households (vs Alabama 7,066) |
| Households that are families | 58.3% (vs Alabama 61.2%) |
| Total households | 23,722 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. 10.6% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 8,634 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 10.6% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 109,314 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 100,680 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 8,634 |
| 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 | 4,703 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 8.4% |
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. 973 residents live in group quarters (1.7% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 973 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 105 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 01083 |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 01 |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 083 |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · County | Limestone |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 19.7 per 1,000 |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 17.40 |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 22.30 |
| County Cdc Mortality · Fips | 01083 |
| County Cdc Mortality · County | Limestone County |
| County Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Medium metro |
| County Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 3,095 |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 01083 |
| County Cdc Vaccination · County | Limestone County |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 48.4% |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 40.4% |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 37.5% |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 98,915 |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 22 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 26 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 23.8% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 57,361, stable, family-oriented, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 57,361 people (vs Alabama 26,673) |
| Town Summary · County | Limestone County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade