PlainZIP

Bessemer, AL · standard

ZIP Code 35022

Jefferson County, Alabama - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

18,888
111/sq mi
$81,846
Median income
$258,900
Median home value
34.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Bessemer pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 36%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 41%
home value, US ZIPs
111
people per sq mi
77%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35022 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 35022 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Bessemer, Jefferson County, Alabama, home to 18,888 residents across 169.7 square miles, a density of 111 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 35022 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $81,846 (34% above the Alabama average), while per-capita income is $41,827. The poverty rate stands at 12.2% and the unemployment rate at 5.9%. The typical home here is valued at $258,900 (46% above the state average); renters pay a median of $1,175 monthly, and 77.3% of units are owner-occupied.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 34.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43.9, and the average commute is 31 minutes. A geography-based comparison follows: 10 ZIP codes within about 10 miles of 35022, plus 6 more within Jefferson County, give a clearer read than the national average 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 35022

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Bessemer, AL

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35022.

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 35022, 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

18,888

Population

169.7

Area (sq mi)

111

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 35022?

43.9

Median Age

47.3%

Male

52.7%

Female

4.2%

Foreign-Born

White 42.2%
African American 50.9%
Asian 1.8%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 2.7%
Hispanic or Latino 3.8%

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?

$81,846

Median Household Income

+34% vs state

$41,827

Per Capita Income

12.2%

Poverty Rate

5.9%

Unemployment Rate

31.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 35022 ranks nationally

Bessemer, AL household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$81,846 Top 36% higher than 64% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $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 57.5%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 34.6%

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

What does housing look like?

10,398

Total Housing Units

9,509

Occupied Units

889

Vacant Units

2.40

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 77.3%
Renter 22.7%

$258,900

Median Home Value

+46% vs state

$1,175

Median Rent

1998

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

+4.5%

YoY Change (2024)

194

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+94%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 35022 have increased 4.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +94% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +2.5% 144
2021 +8.4% 156
2022 +10.9% 173
2023 +7.1% 186
2024 +4.5% 194

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 514 business establishments in ZIP 35022, employing approximately 11,524 people with a combined annual payroll of $622,267,000.

514

Businesses

11,524

Employees

$622.3M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 69 13.4%
Health care and social assistance 56 10.9%
Accommodation and food services 56 10.9%
Construction 50 9.7%
Other services (except public administration) 47 9.1%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 40 7.8%
Wholesale trade 38 7.4%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 36 7.0%
Transportation and warehousing 32 6.2%
Manufacturing 24 4.7%
Finance and insurance 23 4.5%
Real estate and rental and leasing 18 3.5%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 8 1.6%
Information 7 1.4%
Educational services 6 1.2%

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 35022 vs 35020 →

ZIP 35022 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 35022 ranks #5 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 35022 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 35022 ranks #6 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
35020 Bessemer, AL 27,139 5.6 mi
35080 Helena, AL 15,881 5.3 mi
35061 Dolomite, AL 1,465 10.3 mi
35111 Mc Calla, AL 16,140 7.9 mi
35244 Birmingham, AL 32,390 8.4 mi
35228 Birmingham, AL 10,419 9.6 mi
35114 Alabaster, AL 7,172 8.7 mi
35221 Birmingham, AL 4,834 9.6 mi
35226 Birmingham, AL 31,471 8.8 mi
35211 Birmingham, AL 26,236 10.4 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
35020 standard
Bessemer, AL
Pop: 27,139

Related Areas

Jefferson County Bessemer, AL Alabama

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 35022 in? ▼
ZIP code 35022 (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 35022? ▼
ZIP code 35022 in Bessemer, AL has a population of 18,888 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35022? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 35022 is $81,846, which is 7% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35022? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 35022 is $258,900, which is 7% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35022? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 35022 is African American at 50.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35022? ▼
ZIP code 35022 has 514 business establishments employing approximately 11,524 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35022? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35022 are: Retail trade (69), Health care and social assistance (56), Accommodation and food services (56). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35022? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 35022 increased by 4.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 94%. 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 35022? ▼
In ZIP code 35022, 57.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 34.6% 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 35022? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 35022 is 31.1 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 35022? ▼
In ZIP code 35022, approximately 77.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 22.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35022? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35022 is 12.2% 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.