Chelsea, AL · standard
ZIP Code 35043
Shelby County, Alabama - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 9,234
- 78/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $121,356
- Median income Above-median income area
- $366,200
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 46.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Chelsea pairs a top-decile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 9%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 24%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 78
- people per sq mi
- 91%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35043 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 35043 (Chelsea, AL) rose +8.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 192.6 in 2023 to 209.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 35043 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Chelsea, Shelby County, Alabama, home to 9,234 residents across 118.8 square miles, a density of 78 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 35043 skews affluent, with a median household income of $121,356 (99% above the average Alabama ZIP), while per-capita income is $47,600. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 4.5% and unemployment is 3.6%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $366,200 (107% above the average Alabama ZIP), while 90.5% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,322.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 46.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.4, and the average commute is 34 minutes. The page also surfaces 8 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Shelby County, so 35043 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 35043
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Chelsea, AL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35043.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
45 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
36 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
32 establishments
- Construction
Construction
31 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
28 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 35043, Chelsea, 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
9,234
Population
118.8
Area (sq mi)
78
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 35043?
40.4
Median Age
50.5%
Male
49.5%
Female
2.4%
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?
$121,356
Median Household Income
+99% vs state ZIP avg
$47,600
Per Capita Income
4.5%
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Unemployment Rate
33.7 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 35043 ranks among Alabama ZIPs
Chelsea, 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)
$121,356 Top 2% higher than 98% 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
5,485housing units
5,485
Total Housing Units
5,289
Occupied Units
196
Vacant Units
2.99
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$366,200
Median Home Value
+107% vs state ZIP avg
$1,322
Median Rent
2008
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
+8.6%
YoY Change (2024)
209
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+109%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 35043 have increased 8.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +109% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.6% | 134 |
| 2021 | +12.3% | 151 |
| 2022 | +10.6% | 167 |
| 2023 | +15.6% | 193 |
| 2024 | +8.6% | 209 |
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 284 business establishments in ZIP 35043, employing approximately 2,532 people with a combined annual payroll of $107,944,000.
284
Businesses
2,532
Employees
$107.9M
Annual Payroll
12
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 45 | 15.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 36 | 12.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 32 | 11.3% |
| Construction | 31 | 10.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 28 | 9.9% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 24 | 8.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 23 | 8.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 20 | 7.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 17 | 6.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 10 | 3.5% |
| Information | 7 | 2.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 4 | 1.4% |
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 35043 vs 35124 →
ZIP 35043 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35242
Birmingham (35242)
49,545 residents
- 35216
Birmingham (35216)
36,408 residents
- 35007
Alabaster (35007)
26,225 residents
- 35124
Pelham (35124)
23,020 residents
- 35243 17,328
Birmingham (35243)
17,328 residents
- 35043 9,234
Chelsea (35043)
9,234 residents
- 35051 8,787
Columbiana (35051)
8,787 residents
- 35147 5,468
Sterrett (35147)
5,468 residents
- 35186 4,931
Wilsonville (35186)
4,931 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 35043 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 35043 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35043
Chelsea (35043)
$121,356 median income
- 35242
Birmingham (35242)
$117,047 median income
- 35186
Wilsonville (35186)
$102,615 median income
- 35124
Pelham (35124)
$99,726 median income
- 35243
Birmingham (35243)
$99,645 median income
- 35147
Sterrett (35147)
$91,739 median income
- 35007
Alabaster (35007)
$88,505 median income
- 35051
Columbiana (35051)
$80,061 median income
- 35216
Birmingham (35216)
$74,525 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 35043 ranks the highest of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35124 | Pelham, AL | 23,020 | 6.0 mi |
| 35242 | Birmingham, AL | 49,545 | 7.7 mi |
| 35051 | Columbiana, AL | 8,787 | 7.8 mi |
| 35186 | Wilsonville, AL | 4,931 | 9.2 mi |
| 35243 | Birmingham, AL | 17,328 | 10.1 mi |
| 35147 | Sterrett, AL | 5,468 | 10.2 mi |
| 35216 | Birmingham, AL | 36,408 | 10.4 mi |
| 35007 | Alabaster, AL | 26,225 | 10.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 35043, 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 (9,234 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Shelby County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 35043 in?
ZIP code 35043 (Chelsea) is located in Shelby County, Alabama. Shelby County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/shelby-al.
What is the population of ZIP code 35043?
ZIP code 35043 in Chelsea, AL has a population of 9,234 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35043?
The median household income in ZIP 35043 is $121,356, which is 59% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35043?
The median home value in ZIP 35043 is $366,200, which is 32% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35043?
The largest racial group in ZIP 35043 is White at 83.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35043?
ZIP code 35043 has 284 business establishments employing approximately 2,532 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35043?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35043 are: Retail trade (45), Professional, scientific, and technical services (36), Accommodation and food services (32). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35043?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 35043 increased by 8.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 109%. 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 35043?
In ZIP code 35043, 67.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 46.6% 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 35043?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 35043 is 33.7 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 35043?
In ZIP code 35043, approximately 90.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 9.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35043?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35043 is 4.5% 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 35043's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 35043 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Chelsea, 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.