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CITY

East Alton

Illinois · 5,621 residents (2025 est.) · 5.318 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#244Fastest shrinkingof 6,642-8.2%
The short version

East Alton has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $48,815. Population has fallen 17% since 2000, a loss of 1,141 residents. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $106,700. With a median age of 45.2, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 41% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 45.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,689
−17%since 2000
from 6,830 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,070 / sq mi
−17%since 2000
from 1,284 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
45.2
+25%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,621 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6K6K6K7K7K1990201020202024East Alton
20246K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$48,815
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,404 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,577
+90%since 2000
from $15,572 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
27.5%
+6.5 ptssince 2009
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.8%
+7.5 ptssince 2000
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.469
+2%since 2010
from 0.458 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information18.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade5.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Professional, scientific, technical2.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$106,700
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $55,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$881
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $410 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
56.5%
−2.1 ptssince 2000
from 58.7% in 2000
43.5% rent
Vacancy rate
9.9%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
9.7%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.2%
−14.7 ptssince 2009
from 63.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.2
+11%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
47
RELATED:See current rent listings in East Alton on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.1%(6,561)
Black0.9%(64)
Hispanic / Latino1%(70)
Asian0.3%(20)
Other0%
Diversity Score5.6%(385)
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.5%(5,033)
Black0.8%(45)
Hispanic / Latino3.8%(214)
Asian0%(0)
Other7%(397)
Diversity Score26.4%(1,500)
Diversity Score
26
+367%since 2000
from 6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.4%
+8.8 ptssince 2000
from 7.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
85.7%
+12.2 ptssince 2000
from 73.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.7%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 1.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.8 min
+33%since 2000
from 16.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
66.5%
−19.0 ptssince 2009
from 85.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
15.1%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.6%
+10.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.2%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.0%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.3%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.3%
+9.3 ptssince 2011
from 54.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.0%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
24.9%
−30.0 ptssince 2009
from 54.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.1%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Female
53.9%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Foreign born
0.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.1%
−40.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.6%
−3.9 ptssince 2012
from 19.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.7%
−78.3 ptssince 2013
from 88.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.7%
+15.2 ptssince 2017
from 68.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 98.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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EAST ALTON VS
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EAST ALTON VS
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EAST ALTON VS
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EAST ALTON VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in East Alton, Illinois?

East Alton, Illinois has about 5,689 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in East Alton, Illinois?

The typical household in East Alton, Illinois earns about $48,815 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is East Alton, Illinois expensive?

In East Alton, Illinois, the median home is worth about $106,700, and the typical rent is about $881 a month.

How educated are people in East Alton, Illinois?

About 16.4% of adults age 25 and over in East Alton, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in East Alton, Illinois?

About 20.8% of people in East Alton, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has East Alton, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, East Alton, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,374 residents, a change of about -19 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →