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CITY · 2020 ACS

East Alton

Illinois · 5,786 residents · 5.32 sq mi
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The short version

With 5,786 people, East Alton is a city in Illinois. The typical home is worth $79,700. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 21% of adults. 1% of locals were born outside the United States. Households here earn about 23% less than in Illinois as a whole. Renters pay $715 a month at the median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.0
US median: 38.8
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

5,786
−15%since 2000
from 6,830 in 2000
1990 – 2025
40.0
+10%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
5.32 sq mi
Population, 19902024
6K6K6K7K7K19902000201020202024East Alton
20246K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.7%(330)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.8%(335)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.6%(326)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.4%(311)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.9%(344)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3414.8%(857)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.7%(676)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.6%(731)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6415.6%(900)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 749.7%(564)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845%(292)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.1%(120)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$52,773
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,404 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$26,761
+72%since 2000
from $15,572 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
32.3%
+11.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
16.5%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade15.4%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade12.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Information11.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance5.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 6.6%
Transportation & warehousing3%
US avg: 2.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services2.1%
US avg: 0.8%
Public administration1.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$79,700
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $55,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$715
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $410 in 2000
US average: $1,124
56.8%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 58.7% in 2000
43.2% rent
2.36 people
+1%since 2009
from 2.33 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
1.5
−34%since 2009
from 2.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.1%(6,561)
Black0.9%(64)
Hispanic / Latino1%(70)
Asian0.3%(20)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic84.4%(4,886)
Black6.4%(369)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(122)
Asian0.4%(26)
Other1.8%(104)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.5%(30)
Asian origin
Japanese0.5%(29)
Filipino0.3%(17)
Ancestry
German29.8%(1,796)
Irish11.5%(690)
English9.6%(576)
French5%(304)
American5%(299)
Italian3.7%(221)
Scottish2%(120)
Norwegian1.1%(68)
Swedish0.9%(56)
Dutch0.7%(41)
Swiss0.4%(27)
+ 4 more ancestry groups with data
British0.4%(26)
Croatian0.3%(16)
Romanian0.3%(16)
Section 05

Education

20.7%
+13.0 ptssince 2000
from 7.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
86.7%
+13.2 ptssince 2000
from 73.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
5.6%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 1.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

21.4 min
+31%since 2000
from 16.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
82.7%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 85.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
11.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

4.3%
−3.4 ptssince 2011
from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
60.0%
+5.9 ptssince 2011
from 54.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
72.6%
US average: 73.3%
30.4%
+12.9 ptssince 2009
from 17.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

53.6%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
46.4%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
0.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
5.6%
−6.4 ptssince 2013
from 12.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
88.8%
US average: 91.9%
88.1%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married39.6%(951)
Married41.4%(995)
Widowed2%(47)
Divorced17%(409)
Women 15+
Never married24.5%(599)
Married43.1%(1,053)
Widowed8.5%(208)
Divorced23.8%(581)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

5.6%
−6.4 ptssince 2013
from 12.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
53.7%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
17.1%
US average: 13.7%
21.9%
US average: 17.6%
23.0%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
1.2%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
70.3%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
42.0%
US average: 35.2%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)0%(0)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)16%(72)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era42.4%(191)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War7.3%(33)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 451 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in East Alton, Illinois?

East Alton, Illinois has about 5,786 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in East Alton, Illinois earns about $52,773 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 $79,700, and the typical rent is about $715 a month.

How educated are people in East Alton, Illinois?

About 20.7% 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 16.5% 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 1,277 residents, a change of about -18 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 →