West Jefferson, Alabama Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, West Jefferson, Alabama had a total population of 581, the 403rd largest town in Alabama, with a median household income of $41,406, which is 35% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 13.4%.
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 35% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Only 8.6% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
West Jefferson Quick Facts
How West Jefferson Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 468 | 581 | No clear change (+24.1%) |
| Median household income | $61,921 | $41,406 | No clear change (-33.1%) |
| Median home value¹ | $134,024 | $156,200 | No clear change (+16.5%) |
| Median gross rent | $1,129 | $750 | No clear change (-33.5%) |
How West Jefferson Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 97.3%
- Black: 0.5%
- Hispanic: 0.0%
- Asian: 0.0%
- Other: 0.0%
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 53 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 7.3%
- HS Diploma: 40.7%
- Some College: 24.3%
- Associate's: 19.1%
- Bachelor's: 4.3%
- Graduate+: 4.3%
West Jefferson Rankings in Alabama
Explore Alabama Rankings
Other Cities in Jefferson County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 198,173 | $46,051 | 24.7% | $158,800 |
| Hoover | 92,642 | $109,253 | 5.1% | $412,200 |
| Vestavia Hills | 38,616 | $134,369 | 10.0% | $530,000 |
| Homewood | 27,829 | $94,485 | 8.9% | $558,500 |
| Trussville | 26,673 | $123,275 | 1.1% | $370,300 |
| Bessemer | 25,400 | $39,613 | 28.0% | $135,900 |
| Mountain Brook | 22,029 | $201,479 | 3.2% | $916,300 |
| Helena | 21,769 | $115,139 | 3.2% | $330,700 |
| Gardendale | 16,534 | $82,192 | 4.3% | $252,600 |
| Hueytown | 16,414 | $62,784 | 16.2% | $155,300 |
Cities Similar to West Jefferson
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
A note before these figures: with a population of 581, West Jefferson'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
West Jefferson is a small community located in Alabama, within Jefferson County. The total population is 581. It ranks as the 403rd most populous out of 592 Census-designated places in Alabama.
Age Demographics
The median age in West Jefferson is 39.1 years. This is about the same as the state median of 39.3 years. 13.9% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in West Jefferson is $41,406. This is 35% lower than the state median of $63,999. It is also 49% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.4%. This is 14% lower than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. The survey records no unemployed residents in West Jefferson, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $156,200. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $209,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 90.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 29% higher than the state average of 70.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
West Jefferson has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.3% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 0.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (97.3% vs 63.4%). The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 25.6%.
Education
8.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 70% 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 92.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for West Jefferson, 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 West Jefferson, Alabama?
West Jefferson, Alabama has a population of 581 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in West Jefferson, AL?
The median household income in West Jefferson is $41,406, which is 49% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in West Jefferson, AL?
The poverty rate in West Jefferson is 13.4%. This means approximately 78 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of West Jefferson, Alabama?
West Jefferson's population is 97.3% White, 0.5% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in West Jefferson, AL?
The median home value in West Jefferson is $156,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x.
How educated is West Jefferson, Alabama?
8.6% of adults (25+) in West Jefferson hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.