Alton city, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Alton city is a mid-sized community located in Illinois. The total population is 25,430. It ranks as the 87th most populous out of 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Alton city is 38.4 years. This is 1% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Alton city is $53,005. This is 35% lower than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 33% lower. The poverty rate stands at 24.5%. This is 109% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. 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 5.1%. This is 13% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $99,500. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Alton city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 57.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% lower than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Alton city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 65.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 24.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (24.0% vs 13.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.7%) is well below the state average of 18.5%. The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

21.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% lower than the state rate of 37.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Alton city, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Illinois state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois. For official data, visit data.census.gov.