City profile · Alabama · Census ACS 2023

Waldo, AL

Waldo's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

282
Residents
$33,125
Median income
$59,700
Median home
$936
Median rent (state)
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Side-by-side metrics and state or size-class ranks use the same Census and FBI fields shown on this profile. Results stay in the URL so you can bookmark or share them.

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Starting with Waldo, AL - add up to three more cities on the compare page.

See how it ranks

State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Waldo.

Place dossier plate

Sheet AL-WALDO-AL · Waldo, AL 282 pop · income 4th pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-LOW · COL-BELOW · SAFE-UNK · RANK-BOTTOM · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-LOW · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 282
  • INC-LOW $33,125
  • COL-BELOW 88.8
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-BOTTOM 4th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Storrs
  • HOME-LOW $59,700
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Storrs, CT (+ $0 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Waldo

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Waldo on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Waldo on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 282.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $33,125. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Waldo - the verdict

Waldo ranks in the 4th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

4th
percentile, household income
1st
percentile, home value
1st
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Waldo, AL

Waldo is a small town in Alabama, home to 282 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Households in Waldo report a median income of $33,125 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 8.0%. Typical homes in Waldo are valued around $59,700, and the median resident age is 59.9 years. Educational attainment runs 13.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 35.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in Alabama run below the national norm: the state registers 88.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $936 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $245 across Alabama, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 61.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Waldo's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from work and mobility to housing and income to comparison shortlist to population change; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Waldo, city-specific coverage includes annual population history, commute-mode shares. No matched row is reported here for FBI reported-crime rates, matched public-school count, within-city Census tract profiles, local building permits; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

Question 1

What does the journey to work look like in Waldo?

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 79.3%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. No single mode completely explains the work trip here. The mix is more useful than a one-number commute grade, especially when comparing places where transit, walking, and remote work divide the non-driving share differently.

Compare commute patterns →

2. Housing and income

How far does income reach against housing in Waldo?

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. The ratio makes housing the clearest place to start this profile, but a low multiple can coexist with slow demand, older stock, or household-level hardship. Compare the home-value distribution and same-state peer table before treating it as an advantage.

The home-value-to-income reference is relatively compact: the ACS median home value is 1.8 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 8.0%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

Compare the housing trade-off →

3. Comparison shortlist

Which cities make useful reference points for Waldo?

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Within Alabama, the closest population matches are Sipsey (283 residents, $25,179 income); Bakerhill (280 residents, $54,327 income); Boykin (280 residents, $36,908 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Grand Detour, IL (282 residents); Danville, MD (282 residents); Sagaponack, NY (282 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

Question 4

Is Waldo growing, shrinking, or holding steady?

Census PEP estimates show the population grew by +6 residents from 2020 to 2025, a +2.4% change. No comparable local building-permit series is available here, so population change should not be read as a housing-supply measure. PEP and ACS are different Census series, so the trend is kept separate from the headline ACS population.

Recent estimates point upward. Growth can increase housing demand and service needs, but the permit record must move in the same direction before calling it a supply response; the two series measure different things.

See the national growth ranking →

Population

282 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$33,125 /yr

Lowest-decile income · poverty 8.0% (Above-median poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.8 (US=100)

Very affordable · BEA RPP 2024, Alabama average

City profile score · Waldo, AL

38/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Cost of living A+
88.8 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Poverty rate D
8.0%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Bachelor's+ share F
13.6%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Household income F
$33,125

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Waldo profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Cost of living, Poverty rate, Bachelor's+ share, Household income. Cost of livingPoverty rateBachelor's+ shareHousehold income 38 F
Waldo profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Cost of living: 90/100 (A+) · 88.8 index
  • Poverty rate: 48/100 (D) · 8.0%
  • Bachelor's+ share: 16/100 (F) · 13.6%
  • Household income: 0/100 (F) · $33,125

How does Waldo compare to other US cities?

Where Waldo sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 4% higher than other cities
Home value 1% pricier than other cities
Median rent 1% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Waldo against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Alabama only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Alabama-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Waldo near the bottom of Alabama's cities

Among the 556 Alabama cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Waldo ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Waldo only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#474 of 530
10th percentile in Alabama
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 556
0th percentile in Alabama
Median Home Value
#494 of 517
4th percentile in Alabama
Poverty Rate
#367 of 556
33rd percentile in Alabama
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#323 of 556
42nd percentile in Alabama
How in-state ranks are ordered

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Alabama only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

4thIncome percentile
Gauge source note

4th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Waldo's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$59,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 99% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Waldo $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Waldo's home-value-to-income ratio: 1.8×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
affordable
< 3.0×
National rank
#1,008 of 15,516
More affordable than 94% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#976 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 1.8×, Waldo sits in the affordable band: national rank #1,008 of 15,516 and #976 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). The multiple is comparatively compact among tracked cities, but a low ratio can still coexist with slow demand or household-level hardship.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$33,125 Waldo, AL median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Waldo, AL Waldo, AL's median household income ($33,125) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Waldo, AL-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Waldo, AL median $33,125/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Waldo, AL median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Waldo, AL.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 13.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 35.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
282
Median Income
$33,125
Median Home Value
$59,700
Median Age
59.9
Poverty Rate
8.0%
Labor force participation
35.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
13.6%

Population Change

PEP vintage

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
245 residents250 residents255 residents260 residents 202020212022202320242025 251 residents 257 residents ▲ +2.4%
Waldo's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.
Read the chart as text
Period Population
2020 251 residents
2021 250 residents
2022 251 residents
2023 254 residents
2024 255 residents
2025 257 residents

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.3%
Carpool
10.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
0.0%
Other
10.4%

Based on 87 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

Alabama statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $245

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Alabama at $245 (electricity about $138 , water and sewer about $45 ).

These are Alabama statewide averages, not a meter reading for Waldo. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Alabama's BEA cost-of-living index is 88.8 (Well Below Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Waldo is $936/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Alabama statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 61.5 / 100 (Moderate).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a Alabama statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Waldo sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Waldo compares to similar-size Alabama cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Waldo (this city) 282 $33,125
Sipsey 283 $25,179
Bakerhill 280 $54,327
Boykin 280 $36,908
Primary sources on this page

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

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