Tuscaloosa, AL · standard
ZIP Code 35404
Tuscaloosa County, Alabama - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 21,251
- 489/sq mi High-density area
- $48,932
- Median income Below-median income area
- $197,500
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 30.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Tuscaloosa pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 13th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 43rd pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 489
- people per sq mi
- 44%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35404 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 35404 (Tuscaloosa, AL) rose +1.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 199.4 in 2023 to 201.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 35404 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, with 21,251 residents across 43.4 square miles, a density of 489 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 35404 reports a modest median household income of $48,932 (20% below the average Alabama ZIP), while per-capita income is $28,483. The poverty rate is 24.9%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Median home value is $197,500 (12% above the average Alabama ZIP) and median rent is $1,072; 43.5% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 30.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 29.6, and the average commute is 24 minutes. The page also surfaces 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Tuscaloosa County, so 35404 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 35404
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Tuscaloosa, AL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35404.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
113 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
69 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
65 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 37
Other services (except public administration)
37 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services 26
Professional, scientific, and technical services
26 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 35404, 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
21,251
Population
43.4
Area (sq mi)
489
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 35404?
29.6
Median Age
49.9%
Male
50.1%
Female
7.4%
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?
$48,932
Median Household Income
-20% vs state ZIP avg
$28,483
Per Capita Income
24.9%
Poverty Rate
6.3%
Unemployment Rate
24.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 35404 ranks among Alabama ZIPs
Tuscaloosa, 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)
$48,932 31st percentile higher than 31% 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
11,334housing units
11,334
Total Housing Units
8,639
Occupied Units
2,695
Vacant Units
2.56
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$197,500
Median Home Value
+12% vs state ZIP avg
$1,072
Median Rent
1985
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
+1.2%
YoY Change (2024)
202
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+102%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 35404 have increased 1.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +102% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.5% | 156 |
| 2021 | +8.9% | 170 |
| 2022 | +11.7% | 190 |
| 2023 | +5.2% | 199 |
| 2024 | +1.2% | 202 |
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 416 business establishments in ZIP 35404, employing approximately 9,362 people with a combined annual payroll of $439,033,000.
416
Businesses
9,362
Employees
$439.0M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 113 | 27.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 69 | 16.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 65 | 15.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 37 | 8.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 26 | 6.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 20 | 4.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 18 | 4.3% |
| Construction | 16 | 3.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 13 | 3.1% |
| Manufacturing | 12 | 2.9% |
| Information | 8 | 1.9% |
| Educational services | 5 | 1.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 4 | 1.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 4 | 1.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 0.7% |
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 35404 vs 35476 →
ZIP 35404 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35401
Tuscaloosa (35401)
39,878 residents
- 35405
Tuscaloosa (35405)
37,661 residents
- 35404
Tuscaloosa (35404)
21,251 residents
- 35473 14,909
Northport (35473)
14,909 residents
- 35406 13,864
Tuscaloosa (35406)
13,864 residents
- 35453 11,127
Cottondale (35453)
11,127 residents
- 35476 8,106
Northport (35476)
8,106 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 35404 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 35404 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35406
Tuscaloosa (35406)
$119,250 median income
- 35473
Northport (35473)
$69,657 median income
- 35453
Cottondale (35453)
$68,533 median income
- 35405
Tuscaloosa (35405)
$62,301 median income
- 35476
Northport (35476)
$61,154 median income
- 35404
Tuscaloosa (35404)
$48,932 median income
- 35401 $29,152
Tuscaloosa (35401)
$29,152 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 35404 ranks #6 of 7 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 35404, 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 (21,251 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Tuscaloosa County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 35404 in?
ZIP code 35404 (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 35404?
ZIP code 35404 in Tuscaloosa, AL has a population of 21,251 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35404?
The median household income in ZIP 35404 is $48,932, which is 36% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35404?
The median home value in ZIP 35404 is $197,500, which is 29% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35404?
The largest racial group in ZIP 35404 is White at 47.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 9.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35404?
ZIP code 35404 has 416 business establishments employing approximately 9,362 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35404?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35404 are: Retail trade (113), Health care and social assistance (69), Accommodation and food services (65). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35404?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 35404 increased by 1.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 102%. 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 35404?
In ZIP code 35404, 58.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 30.3% 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 35404?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 35404 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 35404?
In ZIP code 35404, approximately 43.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 56.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35404?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35404 is 24.9% 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 35404's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 35404 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Tuscaloosa, 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.