PlainZIP

Tuscaloosa, AL · standard

ZIP Code 35401

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

39,878
325/sq mi
$29,152
Median income
$144,500
Median home value
28.0%
Bachelor's or higher

National ZIP placement

Tuscaloosa pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, renter-heavy area.

2nd pct
household income, US ZIPs
24th pct
home value, US ZIPs
325
people per sq mi
27%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35401 against every reporting US ZIP.

FHFA HPI release change

What changed in the latest House Price Index year

2023 -> 2024
  • FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 35401 (Tuscaloosa, AL) rose +22.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 243.0 in 2023 to 297.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).

Arithmetic difference between stored FHFA all-transactions ZIP House Price Index annual values - a developmental index from repeat sales and appraisals, not a transaction median, appraisal opinion, or forecast. Thin markets can move sharply.

National HPI changes Year-pair CSV

ZIP code 35401 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, with 39,878 residents across 122.6 square miles, a density of 325 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 35401 sits on the lower end of the income spectrum: median household income is $29,152 (52% below the average Alabama ZIP), while per-capita income is $18,050. Economic pressure is pronounced: 43.5% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 13.7%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $144,500 (18% below the average Alabama ZIP), and median rent is $951; owner occupancy is 27.0%.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 28.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 21.8, and the average commute is 19 minutes. The page also surfaces 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Tuscaloosa County, so 35401 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 →

View your shortlist → Compare ZIPs →

Top industries in ZIP 35401

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Tuscaloosa, AL

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35401.

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 35401, Tuscaloosa, 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

39,878

Population

122.6

Area (sq mi)

325

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 35401?

21.8

Median Age

47.2%

Male

52.8%

Female

3.7%

Foreign-Born

White 48.1%
African American 43.8%
Asian 2.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 4.7%
Hispanic or Latino 4.3%

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?

$29,152

Median Household Income

-52% vs state ZIP avg

$18,050

Per Capita Income

43.5%

Poverty Rate

13.7%

Unemployment Rate

18.6 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 35401 ranks nationally

Tuscaloosa, AL household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$29,152 2nd percentile higher than 2% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). This entry sits in this band. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Above this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $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 58.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 28.0%

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

What does housing look like?

19,519

Total Housing Units

14,212

Occupied Units

5,307

Vacant Units

2.25

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 27.0%
Renter 73.0%

$144,500

Median Home Value

-18% vs state ZIP avg

$951

Median Rent

1979

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

+22.2%

YoY Change (2024)

297

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+197%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 35401 have increased 22.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +197% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +5.9% 198
2021 +3.3% 204
2022 +16.3% 237
2023 +2.4% 243
2024 +22.2% 297

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 1,107 business establishments in ZIP 35401, employing approximately 23,977 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,339,683,000.

1,107

Businesses

23,977

Employees

$1.3B

Annual Payroll

17

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Accommodation and food services 178 16.1%
Retail trade 149 13.5%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 132 11.9%
Other services (except public administration) 122 11.0%
Health care and social assistance 109 9.8%
Real estate and rental and leasing 75 6.8%
Construction 64 5.8%
Finance and insurance 61 5.5%
Wholesale trade 49 4.4%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 39 3.5%
Transportation and warehousing 38 3.4%
Manufacturing 37 3.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 18 1.6%
Information 17 1.5%
Educational services 9 0.8%
Utilities 3 0.3%
Industries not classified 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 35401 vs 35476 →

ZIP 35401 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 35401 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 35401 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 35401 ranks #8 of 8 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
35476 Northport, AL 8,106 4.2 mi
35405 Tuscaloosa, AL 37,661 5.5 mi
35473 Northport, AL 14,909 7.4 mi
35463 Fosters, AL 1,749 8.1 mi
35404 Tuscaloosa, AL 21,251 8.1 mi
35446 Buhl, AL 2,234 8.4 mi
35452 Coker, AL 3,880 8.8 mi

More ZIP Codes in Tuscaloosa County

35405 standard
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pop: 37,661
35404 standard
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pop: 21,251
35111 standard
Mc Calla, AL
Pop: 16,140
35473 standard
Northport, AL
Pop: 14,909
35475 standard
Northport, AL
Pop: 14,507
35406 standard
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pop: 13,864

Related Areas

Tuscaloosa County Tuscaloosa, AL Alabama

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 35401 in? ▼
ZIP code 35401 (Tuscaloosa) is located in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. Tuscaloosa County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/tuscaloosa-al.
What is the population of ZIP code 35401? ▼
ZIP code 35401 in Tuscaloosa, AL has a population of 39,878 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35401? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 35401 is $29,152, which is 62% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35401? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 35401 is $144,500, which is 48% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35401? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 35401 is White at 48.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35401? ▼
ZIP code 35401 has 1,107 business establishments employing approximately 23,977 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35401? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35401 are: Accommodation and food services (178), Retail trade (149), Professional, scientific, and technical services (132). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35401? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 35401 increased by 22.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 197%. 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 35401? ▼
In ZIP code 35401, 58.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 28.0% 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 35401? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 35401 is 18.6 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 35401? ▼
In ZIP code 35401, approximately 27.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 73.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35401? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35401 is 43.5% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Related

Compare this ZIP with another

Read our methodology : how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

This page explains the source records, calculation, and limits behind the figures shown. ZIP-level Census records are displayed directly; county, state, and national comparisons are calculated from those published records. Read our editorial standards and corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-06.