Waldo, Alabama Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Waldo, Alabama had a total population of 239, the 491st largest town in Alabama, with a median household income of $29,000, which is 55% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 25.1%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 55% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (25.1%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x.
- Unemployment rate of 18.2% is notably above the national average.
Waldo Quick Facts
How Waldo Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 282 | 239 | -15.2% |
| Median household income | $33,125 | $29,000 | -12.5% |
| Median home value | $59,700 | $61,700 | +3.4% |
How Waldo Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 53 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Waldo Rankings in Alabama
Explore Alabama Rankings
Other Cities in Talladega County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talladega | 14,760 | $44,198 | 25.6% | $121,900 |
| Sylacauga | 12,309 | $50,017 | 21.0% | $161,200 |
| Lincoln | 7,305 | $57,145 | 15.6% | $187,200 |
| Childersburg | 4,655 | $52,338 | 20.6% | $133,500 |
| Munford | 1,508 | $42,284 | 19.8% | $78,200 |
| Fayetteville | 1,154 | $100,255 | 7.3% | $298,500 |
| Mignon | 865 | $32,818 | 31.6% | $37,500 |
| Oak Grove | 856 | $47,857 | 7.2% | $165,900 |
| Talladega Springs | 166 | $73,125 | 15.1% | $153,900 |
| Bon Air | 141 | $38,000 | 30.7% | $73,000 |
Cities Similar to Waldo
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville | 236 | N/A | N/A | 17.8% | 43.6% |
| Coffeeville | 237 | $30,156 | $82,000 | 6.2% | 20.4% |
| Rockville | 223 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Rutledge | 230 | $31,538 | $63,300 | 13.2% | 34.8% |
| Riverview | 260 | N/A | $198,400 | 14.7% | 40.0% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 239, Waldo'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
Waldo is a small community located in Alabama, within Talladega County. The total population is 239. It ranks as the 491st most populous out of 592 Census-designated places in Alabama.
Age Demographics
The median age in Waldo is 60.0 years. This is 53% higher than the state median of 39.3 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Waldo is $29,000. This is 55% lower than the state median of $63,999. It is also 64% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 25.1%. This is 61% higher than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 18.2%. This is 287% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $61,700. Housing costs are 71% lower than the state median of $209,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Waldo is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 70.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Waldo is White (non-Hispanic), making up 66.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 28.0%.
Education
12.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 55% 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 80.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Waldo, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Waldo, Alabama?
Waldo, Alabama has a population of 239 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Waldo, AL?
The median household income in Waldo is $29,000, which is 64% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Waldo, AL?
The poverty rate in Waldo is 25.1%. This means approximately 57 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Waldo, Alabama?
Waldo's population is 66.5% White, 28.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Waldo, AL?
The median home value in Waldo is $61,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.1x.
How educated is Waldo, Alabama?
12.9% of adults (25+) in Waldo hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.