Gardendale, AL · standard
ZIP Code 35071
Jefferson County, Alabama - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 15,661
- 106/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $82,074
- Median income Near-median income area
- $261,600
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 29.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Gardendale pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 35%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 40%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 106
- people per sq mi
- 78%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35071 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 35071 (Gardendale, AL) rose +7.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 177.7 in 2023 to 190.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 35071 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Gardendale, Jefferson County, Alabama, home to 15,661 residents across 147.7 square miles, a density of 106 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 35071 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $82,074 (35% above the average Alabama ZIP), while per-capita income is $43,223. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 3.5% and unemployment is 3.4%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $261,600 (48% above the average Alabama ZIP), while 77.5% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,264.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 29.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.5, and the average commute is 25 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Jefferson County, so 35071 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 35071
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Gardendale, AL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35071.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
79 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
66 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
50 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
47 establishments
- Construction
Construction
45 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 35071, Gardendale, 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
15,661
Population
147.7
Area (sq mi)
106
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 35071?
39.5
Median Age
45.3%
Male
54.7%
Female
1.1%
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?
$82,074
Median Household Income
+35% vs state ZIP avg
$43,223
Per Capita Income
3.5%
Poverty Rate
3.4%
Unemployment Rate
25.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 35071 ranks among Alabama ZIPs
Gardendale, 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)
$82,074 Top 14% higher than 86% 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
7,280housing units
7,280
Total Housing Units
6,865
Occupied Units
415
Vacant Units
2.50
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$261,600
Median Home Value
+48% vs state ZIP avg
$1,264
Median Rent
1986
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
+7.0%
YoY Change (2024)
190
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+90%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 35071 have increased 7.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +90% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.7% | 137 |
| 2021 | +10.2% | 150 |
| 2022 | +16.7% | 176 |
| 2023 | +1.2% | 178 |
| 2024 | +7.0% | 190 |
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 433 business establishments in ZIP 35071, employing approximately 5,300 people with a combined annual payroll of $206,063,000.
433
Businesses
5,300
Employees
$206.1M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 79 | 18.2% |
| Retail trade | 66 | 15.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 50 | 11.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 47 | 10.8% |
| Construction | 45 | 10.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 44 | 10.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 28 | 6.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 20 | 4.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 14 | 3.2% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 10 | 2.3% |
| Information | 9 | 2.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 5 | 1.1% |
| Manufacturing | 4 | 0.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 4 | 0.9% |
| Utilities | 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 35071 vs 35117 →
ZIP 35071 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35214
Birmingham (35214)
19,592 residents
- 35071
Gardendale (35071)
15,661 residents
- 35180
Warrior (35180)
13,794 residents
- 35207
Birmingham (35207)
9,010 residents
- 35068 7,232
Fultondale (35068)
7,232 residents
- 35117 5,367
Mount Olive (35117)
5,367 residents
- 35116 4,240
Morris (35116)
4,240 residents
- 35091 2,719
Kimberly (35091)
2,719 residents
- 35036 297
Brookside (35036)
297 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 35071 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 35071 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35091
Kimberly (35091)
$100,375 median income
- 35117
Mount Olive (35117)
$92,730 median income
- 35116
Morris (35116)
$88,274 median income
- 35071
Gardendale (35071)
$82,074 median income
- 35180
Warrior (35180)
$74,832 median income
- 35068
Fultondale (35068)
$73,750 median income
- 35214
Birmingham (35214)
$56,383 median income
- 35207 $31,486
Birmingham (35207)
$31,486 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 35071 ranks #4 of 8 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35117 | Mount Olive, AL | 5,367 | 3.8 mi |
| 35116 | Morris, AL | 4,240 | 4.8 mi |
| 35068 | Fultondale, AL | 7,232 | 6.8 mi |
| 35091 | Kimberly, AL | 2,719 | 6.0 mi |
| 35180 | Warrior, AL | 13,794 | 8.4 mi |
| 35119 | New Castle, AL | 116 | 5.9 mi |
| 35139 | Sayre, AL | 150 | 7.3 mi |
| 35036 | Brookside, AL | 297 | 6.1 mi |
| 35207 | Birmingham, AL | 9,010 | 9.7 mi |
| 35214 | Birmingham, AL | 19,592 | 9.3 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 35071, 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 (15,661 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Jefferson County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 35071 in?
ZIP code 35071 (Gardendale) 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 35071?
ZIP code 35071 in Gardendale, AL has a population of 15,661 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35071?
The median household income in ZIP 35071 is $82,074, which is 8% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35071?
The median home value in ZIP 35071 is $261,600, which is 6% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35071?
The largest racial group in ZIP 35071 is White at 70.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35071?
ZIP code 35071 has 433 business establishments employing approximately 5,300 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35071?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35071 are: Health care and social assistance (79), Retail trade (66), Other services (except public administration) (50). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35071?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 35071 increased by 7.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 90%. 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 35071?
In ZIP code 35071, 59.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 29.4% 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 35071?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 35071 is 25.4 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 35071?
In ZIP code 35071, approximately 77.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 22.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35071?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35071 is 3.5% 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 35071's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 35071 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Gardendale, AL ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.