Birmingham, AL · standard
ZIP Code 35208
Jefferson County, Alabama - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 14,855
- 1,626/sq mi High-density area
- $38,561
- Median income Below-median income area
- $97,100
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 20.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-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, homeowner-dominated area.
- 5th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 9th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,626
- people per sq mi
- 64%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35208 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 35208 (Birmingham, AL) fell -8.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 171.5 in 2023 to 156.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 35208 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, home to 14,855 residents across 9.1 square miles, a density of 1,626 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 35208 sits on the lower end of the income spectrum: median household income is $38,561 (37% below the average Alabama ZIP), while per-capita income is $23,809. The poverty rate is 23.0%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $97,100 (45% below the average Alabama ZIP), and median rent is $1,031; owner occupancy is 64.2%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 20.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43.4, and the average commute is 22 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Jefferson County, so 35208 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 35208
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Birmingham, AL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35208.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
45 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
27 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
18 establishments
- Finance and insurance 11
Finance and insurance
11 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 8
Health care and social assistance
8 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 35208, 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
14,855
Population
9.1
Area (sq mi)
1,626
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 35208?
43.4
Median Age
46.2%
Male
53.8%
Female
3.8%
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?
$38,561
Median Household Income
-37% vs state ZIP avg
$23,809
Per Capita Income
23.0%
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Unemployment Rate
21.7 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 35208 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)
$38,561 11th percentile higher than 11% 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
7,152housing units
7,152
Total Housing Units
5,659
Occupied Units
1,493
Vacant Units
2.37
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$97,100
Median Home Value
-45% vs state ZIP avg
$1,031
Median Rent
1954
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
-8.9%
YoY Change (2024)
156
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+56%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 35208 have decreased 8.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +56% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -15.3% | 125 |
| 2021 | +27.3% | 160 |
| 2022 | +13.0% | 180 |
| 2023 | -5.0% | 171 |
| 2024 | -8.9% | 156 |
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 139 business establishments in ZIP 35208, employing approximately 1,322 people with a combined annual payroll of $55,851,000.
139
Businesses
1,322
Employees
$55.9M
Annual Payroll
11
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 45 | 32.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 27 | 19.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 18 | 12.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 11 | 7.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 8 | 5.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 7 | 5.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 5 | 3.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 4 | 2.9% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 4 | 2.9% |
| Information | 3 | 2.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 3 | 2.2% |
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 35208 vs 35218 →
ZIP 35208 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35211
Birmingham (35211)
26,236 residents
- 35205
Birmingham (35205)
19,686 residents
- 35208
Birmingham (35208)
14,855 residents
- 35064
Fairfield (35064)
11,458 residents
- 35228 10,419
Birmingham (35228)
10,419 residents
- 35204 10,337
Birmingham (35204)
10,337 residents
- 35218 7,353
Birmingham (35218)
7,353 residents
- 35224 6,094
Birmingham (35224)
6,094 residents
- 35221 4,834
Birmingham (35221)
4,834 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 35208 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 35208 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35233
Birmingham (35233)
$60,336 median income
- 35205
Birmingham (35205)
$51,158 median income
- 35228
Birmingham (35228)
$50,815 median income
- 35064
Fairfield (35064)
$48,692 median income
- 35224
Birmingham (35224)
$42,639 median income
- 35208
Birmingham (35208)
$38,561 median income
- 35204
Birmingham (35204)
$35,420 median income
- 35211
Birmingham (35211)
$34,884 median income
- 35221
Birmingham (35221)
$33,472 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 35208 ranks #6 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35218 | Birmingham, AL | 7,353 | 1.1 mi |
| 35254 | Birmingham, AL | 1,403 | 1.8 mi |
| 35211 | Birmingham, AL | 26,236 | 3.3 mi |
| 35064 | Fairfield, AL | 11,458 | 2.8 mi |
| 35204 | Birmingham, AL | 10,337 | 2.9 mi |
| 35221 | Birmingham, AL | 4,834 | 3.5 mi |
| 35205 | Birmingham, AL | 19,686 | 4.1 mi |
| 35228 | Birmingham, AL | 10,419 | 3.7 mi |
| 35224 | Birmingham, AL | 6,094 | 4.1 mi |
| 35233 | Birmingham, AL | 1,308 | 4.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 35208, 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 (14,855 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 35208 in?
ZIP code 35208 (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 35208?
ZIP code 35208 in Birmingham, AL has a population of 14,855 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35208?
The median household income in ZIP 35208 is $38,561, which is 49% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35208?
The median home value in ZIP 35208 is $97,100, which is 65% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35208?
The largest racial group in ZIP 35208 is African American at 92.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 1.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35208?
ZIP code 35208 has 139 business establishments employing approximately 1,322 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35208?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35208 are: Retail trade (45), Accommodation and food services (27), Other services (except public administration) (18). There are 11 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35208?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 35208 decreased by 8.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 56%. 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 35208?
In ZIP code 35208, 53.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 20.1% 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 35208?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 35208 is 21.7 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 35208?
In ZIP code 35208, approximately 64.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 35.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35208?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35208 is 23.0% 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 35208's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 35208 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
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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.