ZIP Code 35603
standardSource:
Decatur · Morgan County · Alabama
- Population
- 30,545
- Median income
- $81,490
- Median home value
- $247,400
- Bachelor's or higher
- 28.3%
- Land area
- 182.2 sq mi
168/sq mi
▲ 7% vs US
higher than 64% of US ZIPs
▼ 11% vs US
higher than 57% of US ZIPs
Median age 42
Chicago
ZIP code 35603 in Decatur, Alabama has a population of 30,545. The median household income is $81,490, which is 7% above the national average. Median home value is $247,400, 11% below the US average. 28.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 35603 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 182.2 square miles in Decatur, Morgan County, Alabama. The area is home to 30,545 residents, producing a population density of 168 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 35603 against Alabama and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 35603 sits at $81,490 (34% above the Alabama average), while per-capita income is $42,141. The poverty rate stands at 7.3% and the unemployment rate at 2.6%. On housing, the median home value is $247,400 (40% above the state average) with median rent at $910 per month, and 73.9% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 35603 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 28.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42, and the average commute is 23 minutes. We also surface 6 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Morgan County, so you can benchmark 35603 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 35603
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35603.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
81 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
76 establishments
- Construction
Construction
63 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
52 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
50 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 35603, Decatur, 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
30,545
Population
182.2
Area (sq mi)
168
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 35603?
42.0
Median Age
50.0%
Male
50.0%
Female
4.8%
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?
$81,490
Median Household Income
+34% vs state
$42,141
Per Capita Income
7.3%
Poverty Rate
2.6%
Unemployment Rate
22.9 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?
14,274
Total Housing Units
13,175
Occupied Units
1,099
Vacant Units
2.43
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$247,400
Median Home Value
+40% vs state
$910
Median Rent
1992
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
+1.4%
YoY Change (2024)
206
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+106%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 35603 have increased 1.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +106% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.8% | 139 |
| 2021 | +14.0% | 158 |
| 2022 | +20.2% | 190 |
| 2023 | +6.9% | 203 |
| 2024 | +1.4% | 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 500 business establishments in ZIP 35603, employing approximately 8,299 people with a combined annual payroll of $417,551,000.
500
Businesses
8,299
Employees
$417.6M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 81 | 16.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 76 | 15.2% |
| Construction | 63 | 12.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 52 | 10.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 50 | 10.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 38 | 7.6% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 30 | 6.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 22 | 4.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 21 | 4.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 21 | 4.2% |
| Manufacturing | 20 | 4.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 9 | 1.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 7 | 1.4% |
| Educational services | 5 | 1.0% |
| Information | 3 | 0.6% |
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 35603 vs 35601 →
More ZIP Codes in Morgan County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 35603 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 35603? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 35603? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 35603? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35603? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35603? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35603? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35603? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 35603? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 35603? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 35603? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35603? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Decatur, 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.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.