PlainZIP

Birmingham, AL · standard

ZIP Code 35215

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

46,951
634/sq mi
$52,793
Median income
$157,300
Median home value
19.0%
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, mixed-tenure area.

18th pct
household income, US ZIPs
28th pct
home value, US ZIPs
634
people per sq mi
57%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35215 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 35215 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, with 46,951 residents across 74.0 square miles, a density of 634 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 35215 reports a modest median household income of $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%. The typical home here is valued at $157,300 (11% below the state average); renters pay a median of $1,148 monthly, and 56.6% of units are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 19.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 35.6, and the average commute is 28 minutes. Beyond these figures, 10 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Jefferson County, letting you compare 35215 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline 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 35215

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Birmingham, AL

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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, 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; 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

How ZIP 35215 ranks nationally

Birmingham, AL household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$52,793 18th percentile higher than 18% 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 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)

How have home values changed over time?

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 35215 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 35215 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 35215 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 35215 ranks #7 of 9 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
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

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
35211 standard
Birmingham, AL
Pop: 26,236

Related Areas

Jefferson County Birmingham, AL Alabama

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.

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