Birmingham, AL · standard
ZIP Code 35221
Jefferson County, Alabama - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 4,834
- 507/sq mi High-density area
- $33,472
- Median income Below-median income area
- $73,500
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 14.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Birmingham pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- 3rd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 3rd pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 507
- people per sq mi
- 60%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35221 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 35221 covers 9.5 square miles in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 4,834 residents on file, a density of 507 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 35221 sits on the lower end of the income spectrum: median household income is $33,472 (45% below the average Alabama ZIP), while per-capita income is $27,066. Economic pressure is pronounced: 29.0% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 10.1%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $73,500 (59% below the average Alabama ZIP), and median rent is $1,018; owner occupancy is 60.2%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 14.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 54.3, and the average commute is -. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Jefferson County, so 35221 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 35221
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Birmingham, AL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35221.
- Manufacturing
Manufacturing
9 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
7 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
6 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
5 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 35221, 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
4,834
Population
9.5
Area (sq mi)
507
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 35221?
54.3
Median Age
48.8%
Male
51.2%
Female
3.2%
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?
$33,472
Median Household Income
-45% vs state ZIP avg
$27,066
Per Capita Income
29.0%
Poverty Rate
10.1%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 35221 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)
$33,472 6th percentile higher than 6% 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
2,205housing units
2,205
Total Housing Units
1,578
Occupied Units
627
Vacant Units
1.91
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$73,500
Median Home Value
-59% vs state ZIP avg
$1,018
Median Rent
1956
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 35 business establishments in ZIP 35221, employing approximately 590 people with a combined annual payroll of $39,721,000.
35
Businesses
590
Employees
$39.7M
Annual Payroll
4
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 9 | 25.7% |
| Retail trade | 7 | 20.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 6 | 17.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 5 | 14.3% |
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 35221 vs 35211 →
ZIP 35221 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35226
Birmingham (35226)
31,471 residents
- 35209
Birmingham (35209)
29,544 residents
- 35020
Bessemer (35020)
27,139 residents
- 35211
Birmingham (35211)
26,236 residents
- 35208
Birmingham (35208)
14,855 residents
- 35064 11,458
Fairfield (35064)
11,458 residents
- 35228 10,419
Birmingham (35228)
10,419 residents
- 35218 7,353
Birmingham (35218)
7,353 residents
- 35221 4,834
Birmingham (35221)
4,834 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 35221 ranks #9 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 35221 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35226
Birmingham (35226)
$124,516 median income
- 35209
Birmingham (35209)
$71,439 median income
- 35061
Dolomite (35061)
$69,432 median income
- 35228
Birmingham (35228)
$50,815 median income
- 35064 $48,692
Fairfield (35064)
$48,692 median income
- 35208 $38,561
Birmingham (35208)
$38,561 median income
- 35020 $35,362
Bessemer (35020)
$35,362 median income
- 35211 $34,884
Birmingham (35211)
$34,884 median income
- 35221 $33,472
Birmingham (35221)
$33,472 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 35221 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35211 | Birmingham, AL | 26,236 | 1.6 mi |
| 35228 | Birmingham, AL | 10,419 | 1.4 mi |
| 35064 | Fairfield, AL | 11,458 | 2.2 mi |
| 35218 | Birmingham, AL | 7,353 | 4.0 mi |
| 35208 | Birmingham, AL | 14,855 | 3.5 mi |
| 35061 | Dolomite, AL | 1,465 | 3.6 mi |
| 35020 | Bessemer, AL | 27,139 | 4.4 mi |
| 35209 | Birmingham, AL | 29,544 | 5.2 mi |
| 35226 | Birmingham, AL | 31,471 | 4.7 mi |
| 35254 | Birmingham, AL | 1,403 | 5.2 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 35221, 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 (4,834 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 35221 in?
ZIP code 35221 (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 35221?
ZIP code 35221 in Birmingham, AL has a population of 4,834 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35221?
The median household income in ZIP 35221 is $33,472, which is 56% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35221?
The median home value in ZIP 35221 is $73,500, which is 74% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35221?
The largest racial group in ZIP 35221 is African American at 88.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35221?
ZIP code 35221 has 35 business establishments employing approximately 590 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35221?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35221 are: Manufacturing (9), Retail trade (7), Other services (except public administration) (6). There are 4 industry sectors represented in total.
What is the education level in ZIP code 35221?
In ZIP code 35221, 39.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 14.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 35221?
In ZIP code 35221, approximately 60.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 39.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35221?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35221 is 29.0% 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 35221's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 35221 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.