Birmingham, AL · standard
ZIP Code 35242
Shelby County, Alabama - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 49,545
- 362/sq mi High-density area
- $117,047
- Median income Above-median income area
- $477,700
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 65.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Birmingham pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 11%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 14%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 362
- people per sq mi
- 73%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35242 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 35242 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Birmingham, Shelby County, Alabama, with 49,545 residents across 137.0 square miles, a density of 362 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 35242 skews affluent, with a median household income of $117,047 (92% above the average Alabama ZIP), while per-capita income is $68,914. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 6.1% and unemployment is 1.3%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $477,700 (170% above the average Alabama ZIP), while 73.2% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,472.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 65.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43.6, and the average commute is 26 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Shelby County, so 35242 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 35242
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Birmingham, AL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35242.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
276 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
235 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
189 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
186 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
143 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 35242, 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
49,545
Population
137.0
Area (sq mi)
362
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 35242?
43.6
Median Age
48.3%
Male
51.7%
Female
5.5%
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?
$117,047
Median Household Income
+92% vs state ZIP avg
$68,914
Per Capita Income
6.1%
Poverty Rate
1.3%
Unemployment Rate
26.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 35242 ranks nationally
Birmingham, AL household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$117,047 Top 11% higher than 89% 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
25,431housing units
25,431
Total Housing Units
23,978
Occupied Units
1,453
Vacant Units
2.38
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$477,700
Median Home Value
+170% vs state ZIP avg
$1,472
Median Rent
1998
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
+0.8%
YoY Change (2024)
205
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+105%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 35242 have increased 0.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +105% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.8% | 147 |
| 2021 | +8.4% | 159 |
| 2022 | +15.5% | 184 |
| 2023 | +10.8% | 203 |
| 2024 | +0.8% | 205 |
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 1,809 business establishments in ZIP 35242, employing approximately 31,408 people with a combined annual payroll of $2,182,787,000.
1,809
Businesses
31,408
Employees
$2.2B
Annual Payroll
18
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 276 | 15.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 235 | 13.0% |
| Retail trade | 189 | 10.4% |
| Finance and insurance | 186 | 10.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 143 | 7.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 130 | 7.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 125 | 6.9% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 115 | 6.4% |
| Construction | 112 | 6.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 92 | 5.1% |
| Information | 48 | 2.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 36 | 2.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 34 | 1.9% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 30 | 1.7% |
| Educational services | 30 | 1.7% |
| Manufacturing | 14 | 0.8% |
| Industries not classified | 7 | 0.4% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 5 | 0.3% |
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 35242 vs 35243 →
ZIP 35242 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35242
Birmingham (35242)
49,545 residents
- 35216
Birmingham (35216)
36,408 residents
- 35209
Birmingham (35209)
29,544 residents
- 35243 17,328
Birmingham (35243)
17,328 residents
- 35206 17,177
Birmingham (35206)
17,177 residents
- 35210 13,952
Birmingham (35210)
13,952 residents
- 35213 13,185
Birmingham (35213)
13,185 residents
- 35223 11,043
Birmingham (35223)
11,043 residents
- 35043 9,234
Chelsea (35043)
9,234 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 35242 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 35242 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35223
Birmingham (35223)
$168,278 median income
- 35213
Birmingham (35213)
$159,824 median income
- 35043
Chelsea (35043)
$121,356 median income
- 35242
Birmingham (35242)
$117,047 median income
- 35243
Birmingham (35243)
$99,645 median income
- 35147
Sterrett (35147)
$91,739 median income
- 35216
Birmingham (35216)
$74,525 median income
- 35210
Birmingham (35210)
$73,061 median income
- 35209
Birmingham (35209)
$71,439 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 35242 ranks #4 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35243 | Birmingham, AL | 17,328 | 4.1 mi |
| 35216 | Birmingham, AL | 36,408 | 6.7 mi |
| 35043 | Chelsea, AL | 9,234 | 7.7 mi |
| 35210 | Birmingham, AL | 13,952 | 8.3 mi |
| 35223 | Birmingham, AL | 11,043 | 5.7 mi |
| 35147 | Sterrett, AL | 5,468 | 8.2 mi |
| 35213 | Birmingham, AL | 13,185 | 7.0 mi |
| 35229 | Birmingham, AL | 940 | 7.3 mi |
| 35209 | Birmingham, AL | 29,544 | 8.5 mi |
| 35206 | Birmingham, AL | 17,177 | 10.2 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 35242, 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 (49,545 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Shelby County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 35242 in?
ZIP code 35242 (Birmingham) is located in Shelby County, Alabama. Shelby County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/shelby-al.
What is the population of ZIP code 35242?
ZIP code 35242 in Birmingham, AL has a population of 49,545 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35242?
The median household income in ZIP 35242 is $117,047, which is 53% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35242?
The median home value in ZIP 35242 is $477,700, which is 72% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35242?
The largest racial group in ZIP 35242 is White at 79.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35242?
ZIP code 35242 has 1,809 business establishments employing approximately 31,408 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35242?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35242 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (276), Health care and social assistance (235), Retail trade (189). There are 18 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35242?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 35242 increased by 0.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 105%. 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 35242?
In ZIP code 35242, 75.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 65.8% 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 35242?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 35242 is 26.2 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 35242?
In ZIP code 35242, approximately 73.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 26.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35242?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35242 is 6.1% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
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What to do with ZIP 35242's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 35242 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.