ZIP Code 35453
standardSource:
Cottondale · Tuscaloosa County · Alabama
- Population
- 11,127
- Median income
- $68,533
- Median home value
- $209,900
- Bachelor's or higher
- 18.3%
- Land area
- 240.8 sq mi
46/sq mi
▼ 10% vs US
higher than 44% of US ZIPs
▼ 25% vs US
higher than 46% of US ZIPs
Median age 38.1
Chicago
ZIP code 35453 in Cottondale, Alabama has a population of 11,127. The median household income is $68,533, which is 10% below the national average. Median home value is $209,900, 25% below the US average. 18.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 35453 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 240.8 square miles in Cottondale, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The area is home to 11,127 residents, producing a population density of 46 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 35453 against Alabama and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 35453 sits at $68,533 (12% above the Alabama average), while per-capita income is $33,318. The poverty rate stands at 13.6% and the unemployment rate at 5.1%. On housing, the median home value is $209,900 (19% above the state average) with median rent at $1,003 per month, and 87.1% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 35453 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 18.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.1, and the average commute is 28 minutes. We also surface 3 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Tuscaloosa County, so you can benchmark 35453 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 35453
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35453.
- Construction
Construction
32 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
25 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
25 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
14 establishments
- Manufacturing 9
Manufacturing
9 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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 35453, Cottondale, AL · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
11,127
Population
240.8
Area (sq mi)
46
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 35453?
38.1
Median Age
50.1%
Male
49.9%
Female
2.5%
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?
$68,533
Median Household Income
+12% vs state
$33,318
Per Capita Income
13.6%
Poverty Rate
5.1%
Unemployment Rate
28.1 min
Mean Commute Time
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?
5,620
Total Housing Units
4,776
Occupied Units
844
Vacant Units
2.64
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$209,900
Median Home Value
+19% vs state
$1,003
Median Rent
1995
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
+6.8%
YoY Change (2024)
206
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+106%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 35453 have increased 6.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +106% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.1% | 149 |
| 2021 | +9.0% | 163 |
| 2022 | +6.0% | 173 |
| 2023 | +11.5% | 193 |
| 2024 | +6.8% | 206 |
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 161 business establishments in ZIP 35453, employing approximately 4,638 people with a combined annual payroll of $241,665,000.
161
Businesses
4,638
Employees
$241.7M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 32 | 19.9% |
| Retail trade | 25 | 15.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 25 | 15.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 14 | 8.7% |
| Manufacturing | 9 | 5.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 9 | 5.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 9 | 5.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 9 | 5.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 8 | 5.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 5 | 3.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 4 | 2.5% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 3 | 1.9% |
| Information | 3 | 1.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 3 | 1.9% |
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 35453 vs 35456 →
More ZIP Codes in Tuscaloosa County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 35453 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 35453? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 35453? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 35453? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35453? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35453? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35453? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35453? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 35453? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 35453? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 35453? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35453? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Cottondale, AL
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
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Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.