City profile · Alabama · Census ACS 2023

West Jefferson, AL

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

527
Residents
$36,667
Median income
$136,400
Median home
$936
Median rent (state)
View my watchlist

Compare or rank this city

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.

Compare with another city

Starting with West Jefferson, 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 West Jefferson.

Place dossier plate

Sheet AL-WEST-JEFFERSON-AL · West Jefferson, AL 527 pop · income 6th pct

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

  • POP-VILLAGE 527
  • INC-LOW $36,667
  • COL-BELOW 88.8
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-BOTTOM 6th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ McClure
  • HOME-LOW $136,400
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: McClure, IL (+ $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 West Jefferson

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest West Jefferson 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 West Jefferson 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: 527.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $36,667. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

West Jefferson - the verdict

West Jefferson ranks in the 6th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

6th
percentile, household income
23rd
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: West Jefferson, AL

Alabama's West Jefferson is a small town, with 527 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Households in West Jefferson report a median income of $36,667 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 13.0%. Typical homes in West Jefferson are valued around $136,400, and the median resident age is 42.8 years. 6.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 45.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1 residential building permits were authorized in West Jefferson (Low Activity), per Census BPS data.

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. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 61.5 out of 100 (Moderate).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of West Jefferson'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 comparison shortlist to population change to housing and income; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

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

1. Work and mobility

What does the journey to work look like in West Jefferson?

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. The profile is strongly car-oriented, so a relocation comparison should put trip distance, vehicle access, and household fuel costs ahead of a citywide commute average. The same-state peer links offer a more relevant benchmark than a national label.

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 87.6%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Compare commute patterns →

Question 2

Which cities make useful reference points for West Jefferson?

Within Alabama, the closest population matches are Fruithurst (528 residents, $55,417 income); Ranburne (524 residents, $73,750 income); River Falls (534 residents, $33,281 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Nenana, AK (527 residents); Bigelow, AR (527 residents); Morven, GA (527 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.

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.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

3. Population change

Is West Jefferson growing, shrinking, or holding steady?

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.

Census PEP estimates show the population grew by +66 residents from 2020 to 2025, a +15.9% change. Separately, Census BPS recorded 1 housing units authorized in 2024. PEP and ACS are different Census series, so the trend is kept separate from the headline ACS population.

See the national growth ranking →

Question 4

How far does income reach against housing in West Jefferson?

The home-value-to-income reference sits in a middle range: the ACS median home value is 3.7 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 13.0%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

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. Income and home value move within the same broad scale here. The useful next check is not a generic affordability label, but whether similar-size cities offer a materially different income, housing, or commute trade-off.

Compare the housing trade-off →

Population

527 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$36,667 /yr

Lowest-decile income · poverty 13.0% (Above-median poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.8 (US=100)

Very affordable · BEA RPP 2024, Alabama average

City profile score · West Jefferson, AL

30/100

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 F
13.0%

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

Household income F
$36,667

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

Bachelor's+ share F
6.7%

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

Violent crime N/A
N/A

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

West Jefferson profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Cost of living, Poverty rate, Household income, Bachelor's+ share. Cost of livingPoverty rateHousehold incomeBachelor's+ share 30 F
West Jefferson profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Cost of living: 90/100 (A+) · 88.8 index
  • Poverty rate: 28/100 (F) · 13.0%
  • Household income: 2/100 (F) · $36,667
  • Bachelor's+ share: 0/100 (F) · 6.7%

How does West Jefferson compare to other US cities?

Here's how West Jefferson stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 6% higher than other cities
Home value 23% 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 West Jefferson 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 West Jefferson near the bottom of Alabama's cities

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

Median Household Income
#450 of 530
15th percentile in Alabama
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 556
0th percentile in Alabama
Median Home Value
#275 of 517
47th percentile in Alabama
Poverty Rate
#247 of 556
55th percentile in Alabama
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#489 of 556
12th 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.

6thIncome percentile
Gauge source note

6th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How West Jefferson's home value compares nationally

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

$136,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 77% 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%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. West Jefferson $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

West Jefferson's home-value-to-income ratio: 3.7×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
moderate
3.0–5.0×
National rank
#9,793 of 15,516
More affordable than 37% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#7,776 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 3.7×, West Jefferson sits in the moderate band: national rank #9,793 of 15,516 and #7,776 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). Income and home value move in the same broad scale; check same-state peers before treating the multiple as an advantage or a warning.

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

$36,667 West Jefferson, AL median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - West Jefferson, AL West Jefferson, AL's median household income ($36,667) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not West Jefferson, AL-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution West Jefferson, AL median $36,667/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%
West Jefferson, 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 West Jefferson, AL.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 6.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 13.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 45.9%

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

Population
527
Median Income
$36,667
Median Home Value
$136,400
Median Age
42.8
Poverty Rate
13.0%
Labor force participation
45.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
6.7%

Population Change

PEP vintage

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
400 residents420 residents440 residents460 residents480 residents500 residents 202020212022202320242025 416 residents 482 residents ▲ +15.9%
West Jefferson's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.
Read the chart as text
Period Population
2020 416 residents
2021 417 residents
2022 442 residents
2023 467 residents
2024 482 residents
2025 482 residents

Housing Supply

BPS source

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 3
2021 15
2022 14
2023 7
2024 1

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
87.6%
Carpool
3.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
4.1%
Other
4.7%

Based on 194 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 West Jefferson. 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 West Jefferson 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 West Jefferson sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How West Jefferson 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
West Jefferson (this city) 527 $36,667
Fruithurst 528 $55,417
Ranburne 524 $73,750
River Falls 534 $33,281
Census BPS 2024
Primary sources on this page

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census BPS 2024, 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.

Browse all city profiles → · Explore city rankings →

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.

Share or download this profile