Birmingham, AL · standard
ZIP Code 35226
Jefferson County, Alabama - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 31,471
- 679/sq mi High-density area
- $124,516
- Median income Above-median income area
- $411,000
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 69.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Birmingham pairs a top-decile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 8%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 20%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 679
- people per sq mi
- 83%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35226 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 35226 (Birmingham, AL) rose +4.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 221.8 in 2023 to 230.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 35226 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, with 31,471 residents across 46.3 square miles, a density of 679 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 35226 skews affluent, with a median household income of $124,516 (104% above the average Alabama ZIP), while per-capita income is $57,371. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 4.8% and unemployment is 3.0%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $411,000 (132% above the average Alabama ZIP), while 83.3% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,499.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 69.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.7, and the average commute is 24 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Jefferson County, so 35226 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 35226
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Birmingham, AL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35226.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
105 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
79 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
58 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
57 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
53 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 35226, 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
31,471
Population
46.3
Area (sq mi)
679
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 35226?
37.7
Median Age
49.6%
Male
50.4%
Female
9.4%
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?
$124,516
Median Household Income
+104% vs state ZIP avg
$57,371
Per Capita Income
4.8%
Poverty Rate
3.0%
Unemployment Rate
24.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 35226 ranks nationally
Birmingham, AL household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$124,516 Top 8% higher than 92% 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
15,183housing units
15,183
Total Housing Units
14,435
Occupied Units
748
Vacant Units
2.66
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$411,000
Median Home Value
+132% vs state ZIP avg
$1,499
Median Rent
1984
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
+4.0%
YoY Change (2024)
231
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+131%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 35226 have increased 4.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +131% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.6% | 168 |
| 2021 | +9.4% | 184 |
| 2022 | +13.6% | 209 |
| 2023 | +6.1% | 222 |
| 2024 | +4.0% | 231 |
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 581 business establishments in ZIP 35226, employing approximately 4,807 people with a combined annual payroll of $204,698,000.
581
Businesses
4,807
Employees
$204.7M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 105 | 18.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 79 | 13.6% |
| Retail trade | 58 | 10.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 57 | 9.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 53 | 9.1% |
| Construction | 45 | 7.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 39 | 6.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 37 | 6.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 32 | 5.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 23 | 4.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 15 | 2.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 14 | 2.4% |
| Educational services | 12 | 2.1% |
| Information | 7 | 1.2% |
| Manufacturing | 3 | 0.5% |
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 35226 vs 35244 →
ZIP 35226 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35216
Birmingham (35216)
36,408 residents
- 35244
Birmingham (35244)
32,390 residents
- 35226
Birmingham (35226)
31,471 residents
- 35209
Birmingham (35209)
29,544 residents
- 35020
Bessemer (35020)
27,139 residents
- 35211
Birmingham (35211)
26,236 residents
- 35205
Birmingham (35205)
19,686 residents
- 35204 10,337
Birmingham (35204)
10,337 residents
- 35221 4,834
Birmingham (35221)
4,834 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 35226 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 35226 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
- 35244
Birmingham (35244)
$113,450 median income
- 35216
Birmingham (35216)
$74,525 median income
- 35209
Birmingham (35209)
$71,439 median income
- 35205
Birmingham (35205)
$51,158 median income
- 35204 $35,420
Birmingham (35204)
$35,420 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 35226 ranks the highest of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35244 | Birmingham, AL | 32,390 | 3.3 mi |
| 35216 | Birmingham, AL | 36,408 | 3.6 mi |
| 35211 | Birmingham, AL | 26,236 | 3.9 mi |
| 35209 | Birmingham, AL | 29,544 | 5.0 mi |
| 35221 | Birmingham, AL | 4,834 | 4.7 mi |
| 35020 | Bessemer, AL | 27,139 | 6.2 mi |
| 35229 | Birmingham, AL | 940 | 5.6 mi |
| 35204 | Birmingham, AL | 10,337 | 8.5 mi |
| 35254 | Birmingham, AL | 1,403 | 8.2 mi |
| 35205 | Birmingham, AL | 19,686 | 7.0 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 35226, 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 (31,471 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 35226 in?
ZIP code 35226 (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 35226?
ZIP code 35226 in Birmingham, AL has a population of 31,471 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35226?
The median household income in ZIP 35226 is $124,516, which is 63% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35226?
The median home value in ZIP 35226 is $411,000, which is 48% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35226?
The largest racial group in ZIP 35226 is White at 75.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35226?
ZIP code 35226 has 581 business establishments employing approximately 4,807 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35226?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35226 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (105), Health care and social assistance (79), Retail trade (58). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35226?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 35226 increased by 4.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 131%. 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 35226?
In ZIP code 35226, 78.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 69.3% 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 35226?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 35226 is 24.4 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 35226?
In ZIP code 35226, approximately 83.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 16.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35226?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35226 is 4.8% 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 35226's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 35226 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.