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 High-density area
- $52,793
- Median income Below-median income area
- $157,300
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 19.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 35215 (Birmingham, AL) rose +4.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 177.6 in 2023 to 186.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average Alabama ZIP), while per-capita income is $27,977. The poverty rate is 19.2%, with unemployment at 7.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $157,300 (11% below the average Alabama ZIP) and median rent is $1,148; 56.6% of occupied homes 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. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Jefferson County, so 35215 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 35215
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Birmingham, AL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35215.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
88 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
51 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
45 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
43 establishments
- Construction
Construction
40 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 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
Who lives in ZIP 35215?
35.6
Median Age
48.6%
Male
51.4%
Female
4.0%
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?
$52,793
Median Household Income
-13% vs state ZIP avg
$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
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
19,882housing units
19,882
Total Housing Units
17,045
Occupied Units
2,837
Vacant Units
2.56
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$157,300
Median Home Value
-11% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 35215
Birmingham (35215)
46,951 residents
- 35173
Trussville (35173)
25,176 residents
- 35126
Pinson (35126)
21,725 residents
- 35235
Birmingham (35235)
19,484 residents
- 35206 17,177
Birmingham (35206)
17,177 residents
- 35210 13,952
Birmingham (35210)
13,952 residents
- 35217 13,729
Birmingham (35217)
13,729 residents
- 35212 11,539
Birmingham (35212)
11,539 residents
- 35068 7,232
Fultondale (35068)
7,232 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 35215 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 35215 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35173
Trussville (35173)
$117,105 median income
- 35116
Morris (35116)
$88,274 median income
- 35126
Pinson (35126)
$83,732 median income
- 35068
Fultondale (35068)
$73,750 median income
- 35210
Birmingham (35210)
$73,061 median income
- 35235
Birmingham (35235)
$63,295 median income
- 35215
Birmingham (35215)
$52,793 median income
- 35206 $42,549
Birmingham (35206)
$42,549 median income
- 35217 $40,486
Birmingham (35217)
$40,486 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.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 35215, 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 (46,951 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 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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 35215's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 35215 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
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.