Altona, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Altona, Illinois had a total population of 498, the 938th largest village in Illinois, with a median household income of $69,375, which is 17% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 7.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x.
- Unemployment rate of 19.1% is notably above the national average.
Altona Quick Facts
How Altona 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 | 519 | 498 | -4.0% |
| Median household income | $67,125 | $69,375 | +3.4% |
| Median home value | $89,200 | $102,000 | +14.3% |
How Altona 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
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 61 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Altona Rankings in Illinois
Explore Illinois Rankings
Other Cities in Knox County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galesburg | 29,481 | $48,297 | 19.1% | $96,400 |
| Abingdon | 3,443 | $61,653 | 9.2% | $99,600 |
| Knoxville | 3,211 | $82,863 | 7.2% | $145,300 |
| Oak Run | 800 | $100,417 | 3.3% | $298,300 |
| Oneida | 719 | $66,791 | 3.6% | $114,100 |
| East Galesburg | 713 | $79,333 | 17.5% | $123,700 |
| Wataga | 710 | $62,917 | 9.3% | $97,600 |
| Williamsfield | 531 | $82,417 | 4.0% | $109,800 |
| Yates City | 500 | $63,750 | 6.3% | $97,100 |
| London Mills | 328 | $53,125 | 23.5% | $64,400 |
Cities Similar to Altona
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olive Branch | 499 | N/A | $61,500 | 3.0% | 30.1% |
| Tallula | 494 | $69,167 | $94,500 | 15.4% | 11.7% |
| Patoka | 498 | $65,833 | $89,200 | 13.8% | 9.3% |
| Yates City | 500 | $63,750 | $97,100 | 16.1% | 6.3% |
| Hume | 492 | $63,958 | $78,000 | 14.6% | 15.5% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 498, Altona'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
Altona is a small community located in Illinois, within Knox County. The total population is 498. It ranks as the 938th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.
Age Demographics
The median age in Altona is 43.5 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Altona is $69,375. This is 17% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 14% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.6%. This is 35% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 19.1%. This is 227% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $102,000. Housing costs are 61% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Altona is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 91.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 37% higher than the state average of 67.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Altona has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (97.4% vs 58.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 18.8%.
Education
21.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 44% lower than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Altona, Illinois 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 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. 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 Altona, Illinois?
Altona, Illinois has a population of 498 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Altona, IL?
The median household income in Altona is $69,375, which is 14% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Altona, IL?
The poverty rate in Altona is 7.6%. This means approximately 38 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Altona, Illinois?
Altona's population is 97.4% White, 0.0% Black, 1.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Altona, IL?
The median home value in Altona is $102,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.5x.
How educated is Altona, Illinois?
21.2% of adults (25+) in Altona hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.