ZIP Code 35020
standardSource:
Bessemer · Jefferson County · Alabama
- Population
- 27,139
- Median income
- $35,362
- Median home value
- $91,200
- Bachelor's or higher
- 10.2%
- Land area
- 49.4 sq mi
549/sq mi
▼ 54% vs US
higher than 3% of US ZIPs
▼ 67% vs US
higher than 7% of US ZIPs
Median age 40.6
Chicago
ZIP code 35020 in Bessemer, Alabama has a population of 27,139. The median household income is $35,362, which is 54% below the national average. Median home value is $91,200, 67% below the US average. 10.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 35020 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 49.4 square miles in Bessemer, Jefferson County, Alabama. The area is home to 27,139 residents, producing a population density of 549 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 35020 against Alabama and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 35020 sits at $35,362 (42% below the Alabama average), while per-capita income is $20,401. The poverty rate stands at 31.5% and the unemployment rate at 7.7%. 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, a direct signal of whether 35020 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 10.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.6, and the average commute is 25 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Jefferson County, so you can benchmark 35020 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 35020
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, 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; HUD FMR + 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
$20,401
Per Capita Income
31.5%
Poverty Rate
7.7%
Unemployment Rate
24.6 min
Mean Commute Time
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?
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
$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 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
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Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 35020 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 35020? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 35020? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 35020? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35020? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35020? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35020? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35020? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 35020? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 35020? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 35020? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35020? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Bessemer, AL
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.