City profile · Texas · Census ACS 2023

Alto, TX

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Alto - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

825
Residents
$56,719
Median income
$177,800
Median home
$984
Median rent (state)

Alto - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Alto places in the 30th percentile for household income and the 42nd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

30th
percentile, household income
36th
percentile, home value
18th
percentile, median rent
42nd
percentile, safety
📝 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: Alto, TX

825 people live in Alto, Texas - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Alto households earn a median of $56,719 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 30.6%. Typical homes in Alto are valued around $177,800, and the median resident age is 35.2 years. About 17.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 52.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Alto reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1599.2 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Texas tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 97.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $984 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Texas run around $223, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 61.6 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

825 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Texas

Median Household Income

$56,719 /yr

Poverty 30.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Texas average

How does Alto compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 30% higher than other cities
Home value 36% pricier than other cities
Median rent 18% pricier than other cities
Safety 42% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Texas, Alto ranks #364 of 624 Texas cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Alto's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Texas, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

30thIncome percentile
42ndSafety percentile

30th percentile nationally for median household income · 42nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Alto's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Alto's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 48 Avg. percentile National median
Alto's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Alto's home value compares nationally

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

$177,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 64% of 15,600 US cities

$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%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Alto $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

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Alto, TX Alto, TX's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Alto, TX-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Alto, TX median $56,719/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%
Alto, TX's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Alto, TX. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 17.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 30.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 52.5%

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

Population
825
Median Income
$56,719
Median Home Value
$177,800
Median Age
35.2
Poverty Rate
30.6%
Labor force participation
52.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
17.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1599.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
282.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1317.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,020 residents1,040 residents1,060 residents1,080 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,026 residents 1,063 residents ▲ +3.6%
Alto's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
70.2%
Carpool
11.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
17.2%
Other
0.9%

Based on 326 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Texas - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$45
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$223
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Texas state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Texas state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Alto sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$984/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
61.6 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Texas

Bremond
824 people
Ector
826 people
Knox City
822 people
Camp Wood
829 people
Thunderbird Bay
820 people
Mertzon
819 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Alto's 825 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Valley Head, AL
825 people
Funston, GA
825 people
Meigs, GA
825 people
Keystone, IA
825 people
McBain, MI
825 people
Merrill, MI
825 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Alto's $56,719 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Toledo, IA
$56,719 median income
Hollyvilla, KY
$56,719 median income
Buffalo Lake, MN
$56,719 median income
Interlaken, NY
$56,719 median income
Walbridge, OH
$56,719 median income
Navarre, OH
$56,715 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Alto, TX Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Alto, TX - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 47.0% 23.0% 16.6% 10.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 28.9% White 47.0% Black or African American 23.0% Asian 0.5% American Indian 2.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 16.6% Two or more races 10.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Alto compares to nearby Texas cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Alto (this city) 825 $56,719
Bremond 824 $78,611
Ector 826 $61,731
Knox City 822 $41,477
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TX FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Alto, TX?

What is the population of Alto, TX? +

825 people live in Alto, TX according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Alto, TX? +

In Alto, the typical household earns $56,719 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Alto? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Alto; the closest available measure is the Texas state average, a cost of living index of 97.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Texas vary by metro area.

Is Alto, TX safe? +

Alto has a total crime rate of 1599.2 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Alto, TX? +

Homes in Alto carry a median value of $177,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, 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.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

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

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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.