PlainZIP

Birmingham, AL · standard

ZIP Code 35243

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

17,328
551/sq mi
$99,645
Median income
$538,400
Median home value
72.4%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Birmingham pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

Top 19%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 12%
home value, US ZIPs
551
people per sq mi
54%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35243 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 35243 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, home to 17,328 residents across 31.4 square miles, a density of 551 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 35243 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $99,645 (64% above the Alabama average), while per-capita income is $79,245. 6.9% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 2.5%. Housing costs here run $538,400 for a typical home value (204% above the state average), with rent averaging $1,683 a month; 54.1% of homes are owner-occupied.

This is a highly-educated ZIP: 72.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.2, and the average commute is 20 minutes. To put 35243 in local context, 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Jefferson County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 35243

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Birmingham, AL

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35243.

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 35243, 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

17,328

Population

31.4

Area (sq mi)

551

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 35243?

39.2

Median Age

47.0%

Male

53.0%

Female

4.2%

Foreign-Born

White 85.2%
African American 6.5%
Asian 2.1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 4.5%
Hispanic or Latino 3.6%

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?

$99,645

Median Household Income

+64% vs state

$79,245

Per Capita Income

6.9%

Poverty Rate

2.5%

Unemployment Rate

19.8 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 35243 ranks nationally

Birmingham, AL household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$99,645 Top 19% higher than 81% 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%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $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 83.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 72.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

10,186

Total Housing Units

8,825

Occupied Units

1,361

Vacant Units

2.06

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 54.1%
Renter 45.9%

$538,400

Median Home Value

+204% vs state

$1,683

Median Rent

1991

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

+1.6%

YoY Change (2024)

251

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+151%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 35243 have increased 1.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +151% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.6% 187
2021 +8.4% 202
2022 +11.5% 226
2023 +9.5% 247
2024 +1.6% 251

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 1,122 business establishments in ZIP 35243, employing approximately 24,309 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,890,219,000.

1,122

Businesses

24,309

Employees

$1.9B

Annual Payroll

18

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Professional, scientific, and technical services 164 14.6%
Retail trade 161 14.3%
Health care and social assistance 151 13.5%
Finance and insurance 143 12.8%
Other services (except public administration) 98 8.7%
Accommodation and food services 92 8.2%
Real estate and rental and leasing 72 6.4%
Construction 55 4.9%
Wholesale trade 48 4.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 42 3.7%
Information 22 2.0%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 21 1.9%
Educational services 16 1.4%
Management of companies and enterprises 13 1.2%
Manufacturing 11 1.0%
Utilities 5 0.5%
Transportation and warehousing 4 0.4%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction 3 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 35243 vs 35223 →

ZIP 35243 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 35243 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 35243 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 35243 ranks #4 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
35223 Birmingham, AL 11,043 3.1 mi
35213 Birmingham, AL 13,185 4.4 mi
35216 Birmingham, AL 36,408 3.2 mi
35229 Birmingham, AL 940 3.2 mi
35242 Birmingham, AL 49,545 4.1 mi
35209 Birmingham, AL 29,544 4.4 mi
35222 Birmingham, AL 7,884 5.9 mi
35212 Birmingham, AL 11,539 7.3 mi
35205 Birmingham, AL 19,686 5.3 mi
35233 Birmingham, AL 1,308 5.8 mi

More ZIP Codes in Jefferson County

35215 standard
Birmingham, AL
Pop: 46,951
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

Related Areas

Jefferson County Birmingham, AL Alabama

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 35243 in? ▼
ZIP code 35243 (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 35243? ▼
ZIP code 35243 in Birmingham, AL has a population of 17,328 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35243? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 35243 is $99,645, which is 31% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35243? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 35243 is $538,400, which is 94% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35243? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 35243 is White at 85.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35243? ▼
ZIP code 35243 has 1,122 business establishments employing approximately 24,309 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35243? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35243 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (164), Retail trade (161), Health care and social assistance (151). There are 18 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35243? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 35243 increased by 1.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 151%. 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 35243? ▼
In ZIP code 35243, 83.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 72.4% 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 35243? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 35243 is 19.8 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 35243? ▼
In ZIP code 35243, approximately 54.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 45.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35243? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35243 is 6.9% 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.