Birmingham, AL · standard
ZIP Code 35209
Jefferson County, Alabama - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 29,544
- 1,218/sq mi High-density area
- $71,439
- Median income Near-median income area
- $504,600
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 56.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Birmingham pairs a below-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 49th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 13%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,218
- people per sq mi
- 49%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35209 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 35209 (Birmingham, AL) rose +2.5% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 286.0 in 2023 to 293.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 35209 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, with 29,544 residents across 24.3 square miles, a density of 1,218 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 35209 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $71,439 (17% above the average Alabama ZIP), while per-capita income is $50,432. The poverty rate is 17.3%, with unemployment at 4.0%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $504,600 (185% above the average Alabama ZIP), with only 48.5% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $1,318.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 56.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 34.1, and the average commute is 17 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Jefferson County, so 35209 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 35209
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Birmingham, AL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35209.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
274 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
244 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
217 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
175 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
172 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 35209, 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
29,544
Population
24.3
Area (sq mi)
1,218
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 35209?
34.1
Median Age
45.7%
Male
54.3%
Female
7.7%
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?
$71,439
Median Household Income
+17% vs state ZIP avg
$50,432
Per Capita Income
17.3%
Poverty Rate
4.0%
Unemployment Rate
17.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 35209 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)
$71,439 Top 25% higher than 75% 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
15,205housing units
15,205
Total Housing Units
13,175
Occupied Units
2,030
Vacant Units
2.23
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$504,600
Median Home Value
+185% vs state ZIP avg
$1,318
Median Rent
1974
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
+2.5%
YoY Change (2024)
293
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+193%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 35209 have increased 2.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +193% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.8% | 221 |
| 2021 | +7.4% | 238 |
| 2022 | +12.9% | 268 |
| 2023 | +6.6% | 286 |
| 2024 | +2.5% | 293 |
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 1,848 business establishments in ZIP 35209, employing approximately 39,607 people with a combined annual payroll of $2,638,748,000.
1,848
Businesses
39,607
Employees
$2.6B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 274 | 14.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 244 | 13.2% |
| Retail trade | 217 | 11.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 175 | 9.5% |
| Accommodation and food services | 172 | 9.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 136 | 7.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 114 | 6.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 106 | 5.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 105 | 5.7% |
| Construction | 98 | 5.3% |
| Information | 55 | 3.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 41 | 2.2% |
| Manufacturing | 37 | 2.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 31 | 1.7% |
| Educational services | 23 | 1.2% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 17 | 0.9% |
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 35209 vs 35229 →
ZIP 35209 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35216
Birmingham (35216)
36,408 residents
- 35209
Birmingham (35209)
29,544 residents
- 35211
Birmingham (35211)
26,236 residents
- 35205
Birmingham (35205)
19,686 residents
- 35243
Birmingham (35243)
17,328 residents
- 35223 11,043
Birmingham (35223)
11,043 residents
- 35204 10,337
Birmingham (35204)
10,337 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 35209 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 35209 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35223
Birmingham (35223)
$168,278 median income
- 35243
Birmingham (35243)
$99,645 median income
- 35216
Birmingham (35216)
$74,525 median income
- 35209
Birmingham (35209)
$71,439 median income
- 35233 $60,336
Birmingham (35233)
$60,336 median income
- 35205 $51,158
Birmingham (35205)
$51,158 median income
- 35203 $47,434
Birmingham (35203)
$47,434 median income
- 35204 $35,420
Birmingham (35204)
$35,420 median income
- 35211 $34,884
Birmingham (35211)
$34,884 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 35209 ranks #4 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35229 | Birmingham, AL | 940 | 1.3 mi |
| 35205 | Birmingham, AL | 19,686 | 2.1 mi |
| 35233 | Birmingham, AL | 1,308 | 3.1 mi |
| 35203 | Birmingham, AL | 3,798 | 3.7 mi |
| 35216 | Birmingham, AL | 36,408 | 3.5 mi |
| 35211 | Birmingham, AL | 26,236 | 3.6 mi |
| 35234 | Birmingham, AL | 6,311 | 5.2 mi |
| 35204 | Birmingham, AL | 10,337 | 4.2 mi |
| 35243 | Birmingham, AL | 17,328 | 4.4 mi |
| 35223 | Birmingham, AL | 11,043 | 4.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 35209, 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 (29,544 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 35209 in?
ZIP code 35209 (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 35209?
ZIP code 35209 in Birmingham, AL has a population of 29,544 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35209?
The median household income in ZIP 35209 is $71,439, which is 6% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35209?
The median home value in ZIP 35209 is $504,600, which is 81% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35209?
The largest racial group in ZIP 35209 is White at 66.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35209?
ZIP code 35209 has 1,848 business establishments employing approximately 39,607 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35209?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35209 are: Health care and social assistance (274), Professional, scientific, and technical services (244), Retail trade (217). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35209?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 35209 increased by 2.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 193%. 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 35209?
In ZIP code 35209, 74.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 56.9% 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 35209?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 35209 is 17.4 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 35209?
In ZIP code 35209, approximately 48.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 51.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35209?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35209 is 17.3% 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 35209's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 35209 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.