Altamahaw, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 491, Altamahaw'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

Altamahaw is a small community located in North Carolina, within Alamance County. The total population is 491. It ranks as the 594th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Altamahaw is 39.2 years. This is about the same as the state median of 39.1 years. With 34.0% of the population under 18, Altamahaw has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 10.6% 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 Altamahaw is $57,120. This is 21% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 29% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 6.3%. This is 52% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 12.3%. This is 162% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $310,300. Housing costs are 7% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.4x. 95.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 43% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Altamahaw has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 98.4% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (98.4% vs 60.0%). The Black or African American population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 20.0%.

Education

37.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 16.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Altamahaw, North Carolina 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 North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.