PlainZIP

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
$48,932
Median income
$197,500
Median home value
30.3%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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
43th 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.

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 Alabama average), while per-capita income is $28,483. 24.9% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 6.3%. On housing, the median home value is $197,500 (12% above the state average) with median rent at $1,072 per month, and 43.5% of occupied units 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. Beyond these figures, 6 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Tuscaloosa County, letting you compare 35404 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

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.

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 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

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 35404?

29.6

Median Age

49.9%

Male

50.1%

Female

7.4%

Foreign-Born

White 47.5%
African American 42.3%
Asian 1.7%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.8%
Hispanic or Latino 9.6%

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?

$48,932

Median Household Income

-20% vs state

$28,483

Per Capita Income

24.9%

Poverty Rate

6.3%

Unemployment Rate

24.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 35404 ranks nationally

Tuscaloosa, AL household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$48,932 13th percentile higher than 13% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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 30.3%

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

What does housing look like?

11,334

Total Housing Units

8,639

Occupied Units

2,695

Vacant Units

2.56

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 43.5%
Renter 56.5%

$197,500

Median Home Value

+12% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 35404 ranks #3 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 35404 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 35404 ranks #6 of 7 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 6.3 mi
35406 Tuscaloosa, AL 13,864 8.2 mi
35453 Cottondale, AL 11,127 6.7 mi
35473 Northport, AL 14,909 6.8 mi
35405 Tuscaloosa, AL 37,661 7.7 mi
35401 Tuscaloosa, AL 39,878 8.1 mi

More ZIP Codes in Tuscaloosa County

35401 standard
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pop: 39,878
35405 standard
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pop: 37,661
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 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.

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