McDonald Chapel, Alabama Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 651, McDonald Chapel's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

McDonald Chapel is a small community located in Alabama, within Jefferson County. The total population is 651. It ranks as the 390th most populous out of 592 Census-designated places in Alabama.

Age Demographics

The median age in McDonald Chapel is 26.9 years. This is 32% lower than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in McDonald Chapel is $56,971. This is 11% lower than the state median of $63,999. It is also 29% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.1%. This is 16% lower than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. The unemployment rate is 29.3%. This is 523% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $134,400. Housing costs are 36% lower than the state median of $209,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, McDonald Chapel is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 43.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 38% lower than the state average of 70.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in McDonald Chapel is Black or African American, making up 59.3% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 29.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (29.3%) is well below the state average of 63.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (59.3% vs 25.6%).

Education

16.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% lower than the state rate of 28.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for McDonald Chapel, Alabama is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Alabama state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 592 Census-designated places in Alabama. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.