PlainZIP

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
$121,356
Median income
$366,200
Median home value
46.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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.

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 Alabama average), while per-capita income is $47,600. Poverty here runs at 4.5%, with unemployment measured at 3.6%. On housing, the median home value is $366,200 (107% above the state average) with median rent at $1,322 per month, and 90.5% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

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. We also surface 8 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Shelby County, so you can benchmark 35043 against its immediate geography rather than a 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 35043

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Chelsea, AL

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35043.

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 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

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 35043?

40.4

Median Age

50.5%

Male

49.5%

Female

2.4%

Foreign-Born

White 83.6%
African American 9.6%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.2%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.5%
Hispanic or Latino 4.4%

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

$47,600

Per Capita Income

4.5%

Poverty Rate

3.6%

Unemployment Rate

33.7 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 35043 ranks nationally

Chelsea, AL household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$121,356 Top 9% higher than 91% 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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Below this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). This entry sits in this band. $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 67.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 46.6%

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

What does housing look like?

5,485

Total Housing Units

5,289

Occupied Units

196

Vacant Units

2.99

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 90.5%
Renter 9.5%

$366,200

Median Home Value

+107% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 35043 ranks #6 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 35043 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 35043 ranks the highest 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
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

More ZIP Codes in Shelby County

35242 standard
Birmingham, AL
Pop: 49,545
35007 standard
Alabaster, AL
Pop: 26,225
35124 standard
Pelham, AL
Pop: 23,020
35080 standard
Helena, AL
Pop: 15,881
35040 standard
Calera, AL
Pop: 14,965
35094 standard
Leeds, AL
Pop: 14,212

Related Areas

Shelby County Chelsea, AL Alabama

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.

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