Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Altoona, WI Population, Income & Demographics 2026

CSAEau Claire-Menomonie MSAEau Claire#3/13 Population

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

8,878

Median Agei

37.5

Race & Ethnicityi

White

87.2%7,738

Two or More

5.2%464

Hispanic/Latino

5%443

Black

1.3%117

Asian

1.1%95

Other

0.2%14

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%7

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

1.3%78

High School Diploma

22%1,329

Some College (<1 yr)

5%299

Some College (1+ yr)

12.5%752

Associate's Degree

14%848

Bachelor's Degree

27.8%1,676

Master's Degree

10.6%640

Professional Degree

1.6%97

Doctorate

2.3%136

HS or Higher

97%

BA or Higher

42.2%

Graduate+

14.5%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$233,100

Median Renti

$1,285

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

51.9%2,000

Renter-Occupied

48.1%1,856

Total Units

4,037

Homeownership

51.9%

Vacancy Rate

4.5%

Home Values

Under $50K

12%240

$50K–$100K

5.5%110

$100K–$150K

7.1%143

$150K–$200K

11.9%239

$200K–$300K

32.1%643

$300K–$500K

24.3%486

$500K–$1M

6.2%124

$1M+

0.8%15

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$84,552

Mean Household Incomei

$93,831

Per Capita Incomei

$41,919

Poverty Ratei

12.8%

Unemploymenti

2.8%

Labor Forcei

4,888

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

4.1%157

$10K–$15K

3.3%126

$15K–$20K

2.1%81

$20K–$25K

1.9%73

$25K–$30K

3%116

$30K–$35K

1%39

$35K–$40K

4.8%186

$40K–$45K

3.6%137

$45K–$50K

2.9%110

$50K–$60K

5.8%224

$60K–$75K

11%424

$75K–$100K

19.3%743

$100K–$125K

15%580

$125K–$150K

8.4%325

$150K–$200K

7.6%293

$200K+

6.3%242

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

134

Residentsi

180

Avg. Tenant Renti

$472/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

9 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing46 homes95% occupied$492/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers64 homes62% occupied$490/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 824 homes99% occupied$386/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $84,552/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $25K/yr

77.8%

Very low income$25K–$42K/yr

19.1%

Low income$42K–$68K/yr

2.4%

Moderate / aboveOver $68K/yr

0.7%

Who Receives This Housing

71.8% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

7.4% of subsidized households are minority

35.5% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

54.3% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

330.4%

By Region

Top Countries

Canada

United Kingdom

Mexico

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

4,669

Avg. Commutei

18.3 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

4,753

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

408(5.8% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

96.4%Insured

3.6%Uninsured