Calera: Demographics & People
About 17,714 people live in Calera, in 6,686 households. Population grew 3.1% from 17,188 (2022) to 17,714 (2024). Median age 33.9 years. (6.4y younger than Shelby County; 5.4y younger than Alabama). Children under 18 are 25% of the population. Population is 58% White (non-Hispanic) and 31% Black. 74% of households are family-led. County is gaining 1,445 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 36% adult obesity, 16% smoke.
- 2.6 people per household (vs Alabama avg 2.5).
- 26% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Alabama 39%).
- 51 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Alabama 67).
Population & Trend
Population grew 3.1% from 17,188 (2022) to 17,714 (2024) — about 5.1× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~18,260 (extrapolated at 1.5%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 19,004.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| County Population | 45,014 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 3.1% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 17,188 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 17,714 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 17,714 people (vs Alabama 26,673) |
| Population Estimate | 19,004 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 33.9y is 5.0 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 25% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 33.9 years (vs Alabama 37.3y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 25.3% |
| Age Summary · Character | young professional |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 17,714 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 4,476 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 4,649 |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 7,111 |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,478 |
| Population under 18 | 4,476 |
| Median age | 33.9 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 17,714 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| White residents | 9,987 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 5,516 |
| Asian residents | 175 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 1,472 |
| Diversity Index · Simpson Index | 57.7% |
| Diversity Index · Interpretation | moderately diverse |
| Asian population | 60.0% (vs Alabama 1.4%) |
| Black population | 30.7% (vs Alabama 28.6%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 9.2% (vs Alabama 4.8%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 57.8% (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). 0.5% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 5% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 12,277 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 4,532 |
| Share born in this state | 69.3% |
| Share born in another state | 30.7% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 25.6% |
| Foreign-born residents | 50.0% |
| Naturalized citizens | 4.7% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 718 |
| From Europe | 27 |
| From Africa | 50 |
Households & Family Composition
6,686 households. Averaging 2.7 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 74% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 4,790 families, 34% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 4,771 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 4,790 |
| Married couples with children | 1,631 |
| Single-parent households | 228 |
| Average household size | 2.67 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 7.8% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 491 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 86 |
| Family households | 4,931 households (vs Alabama 7,066) |
| Households that are families | 73.8% (vs Alabama 61.2%) |
| Total households | 6,686 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. 7.7% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 1,445 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 7.7% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 38,941 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 37,496 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 1,445 |
| 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 | 685 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 4.1% |
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. 31 residents live in group quarters (0.2% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 31 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 106 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 01021 |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 01 |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 021 |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · County | Chilton |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 40.8 per 1,000 |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 35.90 |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 46.30 |
| County Cdc Mortality · Fips | 01021 |
| County Cdc Mortality · County | Chilton County |
| County Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| County Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,372 |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 01021 |
| County Cdc Vaccination · County | Chilton County |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 45.6% |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 37.6% |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 36.3% |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 44,428 |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 4.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 3 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 5 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 25.3% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 17,714, growing, young professional, upper-middle, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 17,714 people (vs Alabama 26,673) |
| Town Summary · County | Chilton County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade