Blocton Italian Catholic Cemetery · National Register of Historic Places
West Blocton’s story
122 years in pictures
The archive holds 1 old photo or paper.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1904West Blocton is settled
West BloctonAL
A town of 1,194, settled in 1904.
Blocton Italian Catholic Cemetery · Photo: WillyT006 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
1,194
2025 Census estimate · −1.7% since 2020
Typical home
$219K
+3.8% in a year
Household income
$41K
median
Median age
40.0
years
Jobs based here
433
Balanced
Is West Blocton a good place to live?
The best of West Blocton’s subject grades is an A+ for cost of living; the weakest is a D for health. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 78% of U.S. towns. West Blocton’s trail density is 1.2 miles per square mile, above both Alabama’s towns (0.1) and U.S. towns (0.4). Only 12 of Alabama’s 308 towns score higher on the outdoors. West Blocton's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 94% of U.S. towns. West Blocton has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes West Blocton stand out
Where West Blocton beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Typical home value
West Blocton$219K
Alabama$239K
Cost of livingA+
3.1 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 95% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
32 measures vs. Alabama
0 better25 too close to call7 worse
| Widest gap | West Blocton | AL |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 10.4% | 8% |
Worth knowing · HealthD
Less healthy than 93% of U.S. towns
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
Small town
1,194 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How West Blocton grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Alabama), ordered by how far West Blocton is from typical.
Cost of livingA+Open →HealthBibb Medical Center 11.6 miles awayDOpen →Jobs & income$41K median household incomeDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 4.7 of 20; 9.9% of households have no car; 1.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →SchoolsC+Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors6 miles of trails; 10% conserved landB+Open →History1 place on the National Register; 1 notable person born hereC+Open →Civic life0.7 library visits per resident; 0.8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 40.0; 13% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to West Blocton: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in West Blocton, and how to reach them.
PowerAlabama Power17.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterTown of West Blocton water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers59% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have West Blocton’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Alabama you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person until 15 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereBibb County Absentee Elections ManagerBibb County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2019
ZIP code3518435184 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in West Blocton.
HealthD
Residents of West Blocton are less healthy than 92% of U.S. towns
West Blocton beats the Alabama average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 7. 46% of West Blocton adults have high blood pressure, above both the Alabama town median (43%) and the median of U.S. towns (35%). 20% of West Blocton adults smoke cigarettes.
8%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade
| West Blocton | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 46% | 43% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 16% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 15% | 14% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 24% | 19% |
32 measures vs. Alabama
0 better25 too close to call7 worse
| What stands out | West Blocton | AL |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 10.4% | 8% |
| More smokers | 19.6% | 15.1% |
| More adults in fair or poor health | 27.3% | 22.8% |
Bibb Medical Center
11.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsC+
Public schools in West Blocton fall behind 63% of Alabama districts
Its public schools are run by the Bibb County school district. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is West Blocton High School, with 368 students.
37%of AL districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Blocton Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 5–8 | Grades 5–8 | 387 | C+ |
| West Blocton High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 368 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AL on state tests and graduation
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in West Blocton
West Blocton has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in West Blocton is 91°F.
1″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter35–57°
Spring50–75°
Summer68–90°
Fall52–76°
Nov 10
typical first frost
Mar 23
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
Most working residents commute out of West Blocton
Most working residents leave West Blocton for work: only 3% work in town. 24% of residents live below the poverty line in West Blocton. Since 2013, West Blocton has added 219 jobs, to 433 in 2023.
3%work in town
| West Blocton | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 24% | 16% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 33 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $41,000 | $62,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 2.6% | 10% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In West Blocton3%
Bessemer12%
Tuscaloosa9%
Montgomery5%
Birmingham4%
24 mi
median commute distance
433
jobs based in West Blocton
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 22% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
OutdoorsB+
9.9% of West Blocton is conserved land
5.9 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is West Blocton Coke Ovens Park, at 27 acres.
9.9%conserved
9.9%
conserved · 305 of 3,075 acres
5.9 mi
of trails · 1.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. West Blocton Coke Ovens Park | 0.3 mi | 27 |
| 2. William R. Ireland, Sr. Wildlife Management Area | — | 14 |
| 3. West Blocton Ball Park | — | 12 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Safety
Crime reported in West Blocton
West Blocton's reported crime rate is well above Alabama's. West Blocton’s property crime rate is 29.3 per 1,000 residents. Most reported incidents are property crimes.
| West Blocton | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 29.3 per 1,000 residents | 16.9 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4.2 per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
West Blocton4.2
Alabama3.5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
West Blocton29.3
Alabama15
U.S.15.5
5
violent crimes reported in 2025
35
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HousingCost of living grade A+
The typical home in West Blocton is valued at about $219K
The typical West Blocton home is worth about $219,000, up 3.8% in a year, 8% below the Alabama typical home.
$219KZillow home value
Typical home value
West Blocton$219K
Alabama$239K
+3.8%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in April
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in West Blocton
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 52% of U.S. communities.
52risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about West Blocton
20pages on West Blocton
The big questions
SchoolsC+Behind 63% of AL districts · 3 schoolsSafety4.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthDBetter than AL on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA+$219K typical home · up 3.8% in a yearWork & commuteD$41K median household income · 433 jobs hereNatural hazardsC+FEMA risk higher than 52% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of West Blocton; the nearest are
University of MontevalloUniversity or college · Public · Montevallo15.1 mi$13,948 in-state tuitionShelton State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Tuscaloosa25.2 mi$5,127 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 West Blocton residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Alabama.
About West Blocton
Town in Alabama, United States
West Blocton is a town in Bibb County, Alabama, United States. The population was 1,217 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 4.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 495 ft
- ZIP code
- 35184
- Area code
- 205
Questions about West Blocton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is West Blocton, AL expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A+.