PlainZIP

Birmingham, AL · standard

ZIP Code 35214

Jefferson County, Alabama - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

19,592
284/sq mi
$56,383
Median income
$164,500
Median home value
24.0%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Birmingham pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

23th pct
household income, US ZIPs
32th pct
home value, US ZIPs
284
people per sq mi
65%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35214 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 35214 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, home to 19,592 residents across 68.9 square miles, a density of 284 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 35214 reports a modest median household income of $56,383 (7% below the Alabama average), while per-capita income is $31,561. Local economic indicators show a 18.8% poverty rate alongside 4.7% unemployment. Median home value sits at $164,500 (7% below the state average), median rent at $1,068 a month, and owner-occupancy at 64.6%.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 24.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 44.9, and the average commute is 25 minutes. A geography-based comparison follows: 10 ZIP codes within about 10 miles of 35214, plus 6 more within Jefferson County, give a clearer read than the national average alone.

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 35214

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Birmingham, AL

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35214.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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 35214, 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

19,592

Population

68.9

Area (sq mi)

284

People / sq mi

Chicago

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 35214?

44.9

Median Age

45.5%

Male

54.5%

Female

1.1%

Foreign-Born

White 17.3%
African American 77.5%
Asian 0.1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 1.7%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 1.6%
Hispanic or Latino 2.2%

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?

$56,383

Median Household Income

-7% vs state

$31,561

Per Capita Income

18.8%

Poverty Rate

4.7%

Unemployment Rate

24.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 35214 ranks nationally

Birmingham, AL household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$56,383 23rd percentile higher than 23% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 57.5%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 24.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

8,172

Total Housing Units

7,131

Occupied Units

1,041

Vacant Units

2.36

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 64.6%
Renter 35.4%

$164,500

Median Home Value

-7% vs state

$1,068

Median Rent

1972

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

+1.6%

YoY Change (2024)

204

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+104%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 35214 have increased 1.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +104% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +7.4% 141
2021 +5.8% 150
2022 +18.4% 177
2023 +13.6% 201
2024 +1.6% 204

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 232 business establishments in ZIP 35214, employing approximately 3,756 people with a combined annual payroll of $178,309,000.

232

Businesses

3,756

Employees

$178.3M

Annual Payroll

13

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 41 17.7%
Other services (except public administration) 33 14.2%
Accommodation and food services 23 9.9%
Transportation and warehousing 19 8.2%
Health care and social assistance 17 7.3%
Wholesale trade 15 6.5%
Finance and insurance 15 6.5%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 15 6.5%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 13 5.6%
Construction 12 5.2%
Real estate and rental and leasing 11 4.7%
Manufacturing 10 4.3%
Information 6 2.6%

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 35214 vs 35218 →

ZIP 35214 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 35214 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 35214 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 35214 ranks #3 of 8 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
35218 Birmingham, AL 7,353 4.8 mi
35060 Docena, AL 414 3.4 mi
35207 Birmingham, AL 9,010 4.0 mi
35068 Fultondale, AL 7,232 4.1 mi
35208 Birmingham, AL 14,855 5.6 mi
35036 Brookside, AL 297 4.9 mi
35254 Birmingham, AL 1,403 4.6 mi
35117 Mount Olive, AL 5,367 6.6 mi
35204 Birmingham, AL 10,337 4.8 mi
35224 Birmingham, AL 6,094 5.0 mi

More ZIP Codes in Jefferson County

35215 standard
Birmingham, AL
Pop: 46,951
35216 standard
Birmingham, AL
Pop: 36,408
35244 standard
Birmingham, AL
Pop: 32,390
35226 standard
Birmingham, AL
Pop: 31,471
35209 standard
Birmingham, AL
Pop: 29,544
35020 standard
Bessemer, AL
Pop: 27,139

Related Areas

Jefferson County Birmingham, AL Alabama

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 35214 in? ▼
ZIP code 35214 (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 35214? ▼
ZIP code 35214 in Birmingham, AL has a population of 19,592 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35214? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 35214 is $56,383, which is 26% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35214? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 35214 is $164,500, which is 41% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35214? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 35214 is African American at 77.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35214? ▼
ZIP code 35214 has 232 business establishments employing approximately 3,756 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35214? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35214 are: Retail trade (41), Other services (except public administration) (33), Accommodation and food services (23). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35214? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 35214 increased by 1.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 104%. 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 35214? ▼
In ZIP code 35214, 57.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 24.0% 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 35214? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 35214 is 24.9 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 35214? ▼
In ZIP code 35214, approximately 64.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 35.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35214? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35214 is 18.8% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.