Birmingham, AL · standard
ZIP Code 35212
Jefferson County, Alabama - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 11,539
- 760/sq mi High-density area
- $36,633
- Median income Below-median income area
- $232,100
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 34.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Birmingham pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 4th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 47%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 760
- people per sq mi
- 45%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35212 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 35212 (Birmingham, AL) rose +1.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 261.5 in 2023 to 265.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 35212 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, home to 11,539 residents across 15.2 square miles, a density of 760 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 35212 sits on the lower end of the income spectrum: median household income is $36,633 (40% below the average Alabama ZIP), while per-capita income is $29,623. The poverty rate is 37.2%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $232,100 (31% above the average Alabama ZIP), with only 44.6% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $841.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 34.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 33.4, and the average commute is 20 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Jefferson County, so 35212 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 35212
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Birmingham, AL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35212.
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
32 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
23 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
21 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
20 establishments
- Transportation and warehousing
Transportation and warehousing
18 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 35212, 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
11,539
Population
15.2
Area (sq mi)
760
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 35212?
33.4
Median Age
47.3%
Male
52.7%
Female
3.0%
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?
$36,633
Median Household Income
-40% vs state ZIP avg
$29,623
Per Capita Income
37.2%
Poverty Rate
7.6%
Unemployment Rate
20.0 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 35212 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)
$36,633 9th percentile higher than 9% 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
5,613housing units
5,613
Total Housing Units
4,520
Occupied Units
1,093
Vacant Units
2.20
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$232,100
Median Home Value
+31% vs state ZIP avg
$841
Median Rent
1960
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
+1.4%
YoY Change (2024)
265
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+165%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 35212 have increased 1.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +165% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.8% | 203 |
| 2021 | +9.9% | 223 |
| 2022 | +10.5% | 246 |
| 2023 | +6.3% | 262 |
| 2024 | +1.4% | 265 |
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 207 business establishments in ZIP 35212, employing approximately 3,522 people with a combined annual payroll of $184,819,000.
207
Businesses
3,522
Employees
$184.8M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Other services (except public administration) | 32 | 15.5% |
| Retail trade | 23 | 11.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 21 | 10.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 20 | 9.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 18 | 8.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 18 | 8.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 18 | 8.7% |
| Construction | 10 | 4.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 10 | 4.8% |
| Manufacturing | 9 | 4.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 8 | 3.9% |
| Information | 6 | 2.9% |
| Educational services | 6 | 2.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 4 | 1.9% |
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 35212 vs 35222 →
ZIP 35212 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35206
Birmingham (35206)
17,177 residents
- 35210
Birmingham (35210)
13,952 residents
- 35217
Birmingham (35217)
13,729 residents
- 35213
Birmingham (35213)
13,185 residents
- 35212
Birmingham (35212)
11,539 residents
- 35223
Birmingham (35223)
11,043 residents
- 35207
Birmingham (35207)
9,010 residents
- 35222
Birmingham (35222)
7,884 residents
- 35234 6,311
Birmingham (35234)
6,311 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 35212 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 35212 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
- 35213
Birmingham (35213)
$159,824 median income
- 35222
Birmingham (35222)
$84,066 median income
- 35210
Birmingham (35210)
$73,061 median income
- 35233 $60,336
Birmingham (35233)
$60,336 median income
- 35203 $47,434
Birmingham (35203)
$47,434 median income
- 35206 $42,549
Birmingham (35206)
$42,549 median income
- 35217 $40,486
Birmingham (35217)
$40,486 median income
- 35212 $36,633
Birmingham (35212)
$36,633 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 35212 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35222 | Birmingham, AL | 7,884 | 1.9 mi |
| 35213 | Birmingham, AL | 13,185 | 2.9 mi |
| 35234 | Birmingham, AL | 6,311 | 2.9 mi |
| 35206 | Birmingham, AL | 17,177 | 2.7 mi |
| 35217 | Birmingham, AL | 13,729 | 4.2 mi |
| 35223 | Birmingham, AL | 11,043 | 4.3 mi |
| 35203 | Birmingham, AL | 3,798 | 3.8 mi |
| 35233 | Birmingham, AL | 1,308 | 3.9 mi |
| 35207 | Birmingham, AL | 9,010 | 4.2 mi |
| 35210 | Birmingham, AL | 13,952 | 5.0 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 35212, 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 (11,539 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 35212 in?
ZIP code 35212 (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 35212?
ZIP code 35212 in Birmingham, AL has a population of 11,539 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35212?
The median household income in ZIP 35212 is $36,633, which is 52% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35212?
The median home value in ZIP 35212 is $232,100, which is 17% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35212?
The largest racial group in ZIP 35212 is African American at 66.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35212?
ZIP code 35212 has 207 business establishments employing approximately 3,522 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35212?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35212 are: Other services (except public administration) (32), Retail trade (23), Professional, scientific, and technical services (21). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35212?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 35212 increased by 1.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 165%. 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 35212?
In ZIP code 35212, 61.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 34.0% 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 35212?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 35212 is 20.0 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 35212?
In ZIP code 35212, approximately 44.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 55.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35212?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35212 is 37.2% 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 35212's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 35212 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.