Bessemer, AL · standard
ZIP Code 35020
Jefferson County, Alabama - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 27,139
- 549/sq mi High-density area
- $35,362
- Median income Below-median income area
- $91,200
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 10.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Bessemer pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 3rd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 7th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 549
- people per sq mi
- 59%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35020 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 35020 (Bessemer, AL) fell -11.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 204.8 in 2023 to 180.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 35020 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Bessemer, Jefferson County, Alabama, with 27,139 residents across 49.4 square miles, a density of 549 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 35020 sits on the lower end of the income spectrum: median household income is $35,362 (42% below the average Alabama ZIP), while per-capita income is $20,401. The poverty rate is 31.5%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $91,200 (49% below the average Alabama ZIP), and median rent is $904; owner occupancy is 59.4%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 10.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.6, and the average commute is 25 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Jefferson County, so 35020 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 35020
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Bessemer, AL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35020.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
111 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
69 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services 37
Professional, scientific, and technical services
37 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 34
Health care and social assistance
34 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 34
Accommodation and food services
34 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 35020, Bessemer, AL · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
27,139
Population
49.4
Area (sq mi)
549
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 35020?
40.6
Median Age
46.9%
Male
53.1%
Female
6.4%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$35,362
Median Household Income
-42% vs state ZIP avg
$20,401
Per Capita Income
31.5%
Poverty Rate
7.7%
Unemployment Rate
24.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 35020 ranks among Alabama ZIPs
Bessemer, AL household income vs. every Alabama ZIP code
Median household income among 587 reporting Alabama ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$35,362 8th percentile higher than 8% of 587 Alabama ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Alabama ZIPs. 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 · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
12,291housing units
12,291
Total Housing Units
10,211
Occupied Units
2,080
Vacant Units
2.40
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$91,200
Median Home Value
-49% vs state ZIP avg
$904
Median Rent
1958
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
-11.9%
YoY Change (2024)
180
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+80%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 35020 have decreased 11.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +80% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +21.6% | 185 |
| 2021 | -1.5% | 182 |
| 2022 | +14.8% | 209 |
| 2023 | -1.9% | 205 |
| 2024 | -11.9% | 180 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 440 business establishments in ZIP 35020, employing approximately 5,904 people with a combined annual payroll of $310,021,000.
440
Businesses
5,904
Employees
$310.0M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 111 | 25.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 69 | 15.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 37 | 8.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 34 | 7.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 34 | 7.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 30 | 6.8% |
| Construction | 28 | 6.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 23 | 5.2% |
| Manufacturing | 19 | 4.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 14 | 3.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 14 | 3.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 12 | 2.7% |
| Information | 7 | 1.6% |
| Educational services | 4 | 0.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 0.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 35020 vs 35061 →
ZIP 35020 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35226
Birmingham (35226)
31,471 residents
- 35020
Bessemer (35020)
27,139 residents
- 35211
Birmingham (35211)
26,236 residents
- 35022
Bessemer (35022)
18,888 residents
- 35064 11,458
Fairfield (35064)
11,458 residents
- 35228 10,419
Birmingham (35228)
10,419 residents
- 35127 10,099
Pleasant Grove (35127)
10,099 residents
- 35218 7,353
Birmingham (35218)
7,353 residents
- 35224 6,094
Birmingham (35224)
6,094 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 35020 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 35020 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35226
Birmingham (35226)
$124,516 median income
- 35022
Bessemer (35022)
$81,846 median income
- 35127
Pleasant Grove (35127)
$70,317 median income
- 35061
Dolomite (35061)
$69,432 median income
- 35228
Birmingham (35228)
$50,815 median income
- 35064 $48,692
Fairfield (35064)
$48,692 median income
- 35224 $42,639
Birmingham (35224)
$42,639 median income
- 35020 $35,362
Bessemer (35020)
$35,362 median income
- 35211 $34,884
Birmingham (35211)
$34,884 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 35020 ranks #8 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35061 | Dolomite, AL | 1,465 | 4.8 mi |
| 35228 | Birmingham, AL | 10,419 | 4.1 mi |
| 35022 | Bessemer, AL | 18,888 | 5.6 mi |
| 35221 | Birmingham, AL | 4,834 | 4.4 mi |
| 35064 | Fairfield, AL | 11,458 | 5.4 mi |
| 35226 | Birmingham, AL | 31,471 | 6.2 mi |
| 35127 | Pleasant Grove, AL | 10,099 | 6.3 mi |
| 35224 | Birmingham, AL | 6,094 | 8.1 mi |
| 35211 | Birmingham, AL | 26,236 | 5.7 mi |
| 35218 | Birmingham, AL | 7,353 | 8.0 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 35020, both outside AL so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (27,139 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Jefferson County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 35020 in?
ZIP code 35020 (Bessemer) is located in Jefferson County, Alabama. Jefferson County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/jefferson-al.
What is the population of ZIP code 35020?
ZIP code 35020 in Bessemer, AL has a population of 27,139 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35020?
The median household income in ZIP 35020 is $35,362, which is 54% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35020?
The median home value in ZIP 35020 is $91,200, which is 67% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35020?
The largest racial group in ZIP 35020 is African American at 70.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 16.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35020?
ZIP code 35020 has 440 business establishments employing approximately 5,904 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35020?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35020 are: Retail trade (111), Other services (except public administration) (69), Professional, scientific, and technical services (37). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35020?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 35020 decreased by 11.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 80%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 35020?
In ZIP code 35020, 51.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 10.2% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 35020?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 35020 is 24.6 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 35020?
In ZIP code 35020, approximately 59.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 40.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35020?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35020 is 31.5% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 35020's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 35020 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Bessemer, AL ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.