ZIP Code 35215

standard

Source:

Birmingham · Jefferson County · Alabama

Population
46,951

634/sq mi

Median income
$52,793

▼ 31% vs US

higher than 18% of US ZIPs

Median home value
$157,300

▼ 43% vs US

higher than 28% of US ZIPs

Bachelor's or higher
19.0%

Median age 35.6

Land area
74.0 sq mi

Chicago

ZIP code 35215 in Birmingham, Alabama has a population of 46,951. The median household income is $52,793, which is 31% below the national average. Median home value is $157,300, 43% below the US average. 19.0% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

ZIP code 35215 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 74.0 square miles in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. The area is home to 46,951 residents, producing a population density of 634 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 35215 against Alabama and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 35215 sits at $52,793 (13% below the Alabama average), while per-capita income is $27,977. The poverty rate stands at 19.2% and the unemployment rate at 7.2%. On housing, the median home value is $157,300 (11% below the state average) with median rent at $1,148 per month, and 56.6% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 35215 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 19.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 35.6, and the average commute is 28 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Jefferson County, so you can benchmark 35215 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 35215

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35215.

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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 35215, Birmingham, AL · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

46,951

Population

74.0

Area (sq mi)

634

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 35215?

35.6

Median Age

48.6%

Male

51.4%

Female

4.0%

Foreign-Born

White 15.8%
African American 76.4%
Asian 0.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 3.4%
Hispanic or Latino 5.8%

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?

$52,793

Median Household Income

-13% vs state

$27,977

Per Capita Income

19.2%

Poverty Rate

7.2%

Unemployment Rate

27.7 min

Mean Commute Time

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

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 54.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 19.0%

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

What does housing look like?

19,882

Total Housing Units

17,045

Occupied Units

2,837

Vacant Units

2.56

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 56.6%
Renter 43.4%

$157,300

Median Home Value

-11% vs state

$1,148

Median Rent

1975

Median Year Built

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

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+4.8%

YoY Change (2024)

186

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+86%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 35215 have increased 4.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +86% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +7.5% 129
2021 +16.8% 151
2022 +11.5% 168
2023 +5.8% 178
2024 +4.8% 186

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 432 business establishments in ZIP 35215, employing approximately 7,770 people with a combined annual payroll of $379,672,000.

432

Businesses

7,770

Employees

$379.7M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 88 20.4%
Accommodation and food services 51 11.8%
Health care and social assistance 45 10.4%
Other services (except public administration) 43 9.9%
Construction 40 9.3%
Finance and insurance 34 7.9%
Real estate and rental and leasing 26 6.0%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 22 5.1%
Manufacturing 21 4.9%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 19 4.4%
Transportation and warehousing 13 3.0%
Wholesale trade 12 2.8%
Information 8 1.9%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 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 35215 vs 35119 →

ZIP Code City Population Distance
35119 New Castle, AL 116 3.9 mi
35235 Birmingham, AL 19,484 3.7 mi
35206 Birmingham, AL 17,177 5.5 mi
35217 Birmingham, AL 13,729 4.2 mi
35126 Pinson, AL 21,725 6.4 mi
35116 Morris, AL 4,240 6.7 mi
35173 Trussville, AL 25,176 8.1 mi
35210 Birmingham, AL 13,952 7.6 mi
35212 Birmingham, AL 11,539 7.5 mi
35068 Fultondale, AL 7,232 7.8 mi

More ZIP Codes in Jefferson County

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 35215 in?
ZIP code 35215 (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 35215?
ZIP code 35215 in Birmingham, AL has a population of 46,951 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35215?
The median household income in ZIP 35215 is $52,793, which is 31% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35215?
The median home value in ZIP 35215 is $157,300, which is 43% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35215?
The largest racial group in ZIP 35215 is African American at 76.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35215?
ZIP code 35215 has 432 business establishments employing approximately 7,770 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35215?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35215 are: Retail trade (88), Accommodation and food services (51), Health care and social assistance (45). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35215?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 35215 increased by 4.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 86%. 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 35215?
In ZIP code 35215, 54.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 19.0% 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 35215?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 35215 is 27.7 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 35215?
In ZIP code 35215, approximately 56.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 43.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35215?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35215 is 19.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Official Data Resources for Birmingham, AL

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.

PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.