With 20,214 people, Alton is a city in Texas. The median age is 26.1, younger than the US median of 38.9. Since 2000 the city has more than tripled, up 15,830 people. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. 27.5% of people here live below the federal poverty line. Home values have more than tripled since 2000, reaching $156,300.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $52,715, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 26.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 99%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Alton
What changed most since 1990
Population3,048 → 20,214(+563%)US over the same years: +35%
Poverty rate63.7% → 27.5%(−36.2 pts)US over the same years: −0.8 pts
Homes owned by their occupants80.3% → 55.0%(−25.3 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
Alton's population equals 2.3% of Hidalgo County's. Its number of veterans equals 0.8% of the county's. Its number of households without a car equals 1.2% of the county's.
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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)90.1%(137)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)46.7%(71)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era0%(0)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 152 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
Over time
Alton, decade by decade
Alton population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
3,048
$23,067
$52,802
2.2%
5.5
2000
4,384
$40,253
$78,513
2.4%
5.1
2010
12,341
$37,068
$86,027
3.4%
15.0
2020
18,198
$45,871
$98,902
11.0%
7.4
2024
20,214
$52,715
$156,300
14.2%
7.8
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
