PlainZIP

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
$35,362
Median income
$91,200
Median home value
10.2%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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.

3th 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.

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 Alabama average), while per-capita income is $20,401. Local economic indicators show a 31.5% poverty rate alongside 7.7% unemployment. On housing, the median home value is $91,200 (49% below the state average) with median rent at $904 per month, and 59.4% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

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. Beyond these figures, 10 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Jefferson County, letting you compare 35020 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

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.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 35020?

40.6

Median Age

46.9%

Male

53.1%

Female

6.4%

Foreign-Born

White 11.4%
African American 70.8%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.0%
Hispanic or Latino 16.5%

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

$20,401

Per Capita Income

31.5%

Poverty Rate

7.7%

Unemployment Rate

24.6 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 35020 ranks nationally

Bessemer, AL household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$35,362 3rd percentile higher than 3% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). This entry sits in this band. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Above this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 51.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 10.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

12,291

Total Housing Units

10,211

Occupied Units

2,080

Vacant Units

2.40

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 59.4%
Renter 40.6%

$91,200

Median Home Value

-49% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 35020 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 35020 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

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.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
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

More ZIP Codes in Jefferson County

35215 standard
Birmingham, AL
Pop: 46,951
35216 standard
Birmingham, AL
Pop: 36,408
35244 standard
Birmingham, AL
Pop: 32,390
35226 standard
Birmingham, AL
Pop: 31,471
35209 standard
Birmingham, AL
Pop: 29,544
35211 standard
Birmingham, AL
Pop: 26,236

Related Areas

Jefferson County Bessemer, AL Alabama

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.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.