Poverty and living standards in Decatur, Alabama: official figures
13.1% of residents of Decatur (7,352 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 364th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; Alabama: 15.6%).
How many children live in poverty in Decatur?
18.1% of children under 18 in Decatur lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (2,414 children), 317th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; Alabama: 21.3%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Decatur?
By age, the poverty rate in Decatur was 30.7% for children under 6 and 12.4% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Decatur live in deep poverty?
3,299 people in Decatur, 5.9% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 405th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Decatur are cost-burdened?
46.1% of renting households in Decatur spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (3,652 households), 146th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; Alabama: 48.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Decatur spend half their income on rent?
23.1% of renting households in Decatur spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 221st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Decatur are food insecure?
An estimated 24.9% of adults in Decatur experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 113th highest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 18.6% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Decatur compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Decatur ranks 364 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 361 | Lakewood | 13.2% |
| 362 | Fort Worth | 13.1% |
| 363 | Lebanon | 13.1% |
| 364 | Decatur | 13.1% |
| 365 | Cathedral City | 13.1% |
| 366 | Largo | 13.1% |
| 367 | Federal Way | 13.0% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Decatur ranks 317 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 314 | Rapid City | 18.1% |
| 315 | San Marcos | 18.1% |
| 316 | Rialto | 18.1% |
| 317 | Decatur | 18.1% |
| 318 | Aurora | 18.1% |
| 319 | White Plains | 18.0% |
| 320 | Tyler | 18.0% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Decatur ranks 405 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 402 | Monterey Park | 5.9% |
| 403 | Denver | 5.9% |
| 404 | Kenosha | 5.9% |
| 405 | Decatur | 5.9% |
| 406 | North Las Vegas | 5.9% |
| 407 | Plainfield | 5.9% |
| 408 | Aurora | 5.8% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Decatur ranks 678 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 675 | Westfield | 46.1% |
| 676 | Hillsboro | 46.1% |
| 677 | Woodbury | 46.1% |
| 678 | Decatur | 46.1% |
| 679 | Euless | 46.1% |
| 680 | Hendersonville | 46.0% |
| 681 | Orem | 46.0% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
Decatur ranks 113 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 110 | Lawton | 25.0% |
| 111 | North Little Rock | 25.0% |
| 112 | Bossier City | 25.0% |
| 113 | Decatur | 24.9% |
| 114 | Cathedral City | 24.9% |
| 115 | North Las Vegas | 24.8% |
| 116 | Kansas City | 24.8% |
More on Decatur: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.