Birmingham, AL · standard
ZIP Code 35204
Jefferson County, Alabama - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 10,337
- 822/sq mi High-density area
- $35,420
- Median income Below-median income area
- $89,300
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 16.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Birmingham pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 3rd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 7th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 822
- people per sq mi
- 46%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35204 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 35204 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, home to 10,337 residents across 12.6 square miles, a density of 822 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 35204 sits on the lower end of the income spectrum: median household income is $35,420 (42% below the average Alabama ZIP), while per-capita income is $20,478. Economic pressure is pronounced: 26.5% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 10.2%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $89,300 (50% below the average Alabama ZIP), and median rent is $751; owner occupancy is 46.2%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 16.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43, and the average commute is -. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Jefferson County, so 35204 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 35204
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Birmingham, AL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35204.
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
32 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
28 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
27 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
25 establishments
- Transportation and warehousing
Transportation and warehousing
15 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 35204, Birmingham, 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
10,337
Population
12.6
Area (sq mi)
822
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 35204?
43.0
Median Age
49.8%
Male
50.2%
Female
2.8%
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?
$35,420
Median Household Income
-42% vs state ZIP avg
$20,478
Per Capita Income
26.5%
Poverty Rate
10.2%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 35204 ranks among Alabama ZIPs
Birmingham, 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)
$35,420 8th percentile higher than 8% 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
5,388housing units
5,388
Total Housing Units
4,159
Occupied Units
1,229
Vacant Units
2.06
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$89,300
Median Home Value
-50% vs state ZIP avg
$751
Median Rent
1951
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 168 business establishments in ZIP 35204, employing approximately 3,831 people with a combined annual payroll of $153,036,000.
168
Businesses
3,831
Employees
$153.0M
Annual Payroll
11
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Other services (except public administration) | 32 | 19.1% |
| Retail trade | 28 | 16.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 27 | 16.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 25 | 14.9% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 15 | 8.9% |
| Manufacturing | 8 | 4.8% |
| Construction | 7 | 4.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 7 | 4.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 6 | 3.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 4 | 2.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 4 | 2.4% |
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 35204 vs 35254 →
ZIP 35204 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35209
Birmingham (35209)
29,544 residents
- 35205
Birmingham (35205)
19,686 residents
- 35208
Birmingham (35208)
14,855 residents
- 35204 10,337
Birmingham (35204)
10,337 residents
- 35207 9,010
Birmingham (35207)
9,010 residents
- 35222 7,884
Birmingham (35222)
7,884 residents
- 35218 7,353
Birmingham (35218)
7,353 residents
- 35234 6,311
Birmingham (35234)
6,311 residents
- 35203 3,798
Birmingham (35203)
3,798 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 35204 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 35204 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35222
Birmingham (35222)
$84,066 median income
- 35209
Birmingham (35209)
$71,439 median income
- 35233
Birmingham (35233)
$60,336 median income
- 35205
Birmingham (35205)
$51,158 median income
- 35203
Birmingham (35203)
$47,434 median income
- 35208
Birmingham (35208)
$38,561 median income
- 35204
Birmingham (35204)
$35,420 median income
- 35207 $31,486
Birmingham (35207)
$31,486 median income
- 35218 $30,739
Birmingham (35218)
$30,739 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 35204 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35254 | Birmingham, AL | 1,403 | 1.1 mi |
| 35203 | Birmingham, AL | 3,798 | 1.8 mi |
| 35233 | Birmingham, AL | 1,308 | 2.4 mi |
| 35234 | Birmingham, AL | 6,311 | 2.5 mi |
| 35205 | Birmingham, AL | 19,686 | 2.6 mi |
| 35207 | Birmingham, AL | 9,010 | 3.2 mi |
| 35208 | Birmingham, AL | 14,855 | 2.9 mi |
| 35218 | Birmingham, AL | 7,353 | 3.3 mi |
| 35222 | Birmingham, AL | 7,884 | 4.0 mi |
| 35209 | Birmingham, AL | 29,544 | 4.2 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 35204, 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 (10,337 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 35204 in?
ZIP code 35204 (Birmingham) 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 35204?
ZIP code 35204 in Birmingham, AL has a population of 10,337 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35204?
The median household income in ZIP 35204 is $35,420, which is 54% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35204?
The median home value in ZIP 35204 is $89,300, which is 68% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35204?
The largest racial group in ZIP 35204 is African American at 86.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35204?
ZIP code 35204 has 168 business establishments employing approximately 3,831 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35204?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35204 are: Other services (except public administration) (32), Retail trade (28), Wholesale trade (27). There are 11 industry sectors represented in total.
What is the education level in ZIP code 35204?
In ZIP code 35204, 54.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 16.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 35204?
In ZIP code 35204, approximately 46.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 53.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35204?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35204 is 26.5% 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 35204's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 35204 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Birmingham, 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.