PlainZIP

Gadsden, AL · standard

ZIP Code 35901

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

20,045
130/sq mi
$48,876
Median income
$166,200
Median home value
23.4%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Gadsden pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

13th pct
household income, US ZIPs
33th pct
home value, US ZIPs
130
people per sq mi
66%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35901 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 35901 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Gadsden, Etowah County, Alabama, with 20,045 residents across 154.1 square miles, a density of 130 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 35901 reports a modest median household income of $48,876 (20% below the Alabama average), while per-capita income is $28,267. Local economic indicators show a 26.3% poverty rate alongside 6.1% unemployment. On housing, the median home value is $166,200 (6% below the state average) with median rent at $820 per month, and 65.9% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 23.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.8, and the average commute is 22 minutes. To put 35901 in local context, 4 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Etowah County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 35901

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Gadsden, AL

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35901.

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 35901, Gadsden, 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

20,045

Population

154.1

Area (sq mi)

130

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 35901?

38.8

Median Age

48.8%

Male

51.2%

Female

3.3%

Foreign-Born

White 57.0%
African American 30.0%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 1.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.1%
Hispanic or Latino 9.4%

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?

$48,876

Median Household Income

-20% vs state

$28,267

Per Capita Income

26.3%

Poverty Rate

6.1%

Unemployment Rate

21.8 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 35901 ranks nationally

Gadsden, AL household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$48,876 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 55.5%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 23.4%

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

What does housing look like?

9,224

Total Housing Units

7,116

Occupied Units

2,108

Vacant Units

2.53

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 65.9%
Renter 34.1%

$166,200

Median Home Value

-6% vs state

$820

Median Rent

1968

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

+12.5%

YoY Change (2024)

200

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+100%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 35901 have increased 12.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +100% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +2.1% 136
2021 +10.8% 151
2022 +12.3% 170
2023 +4.9% 178
2024 +12.5% 200

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 635 business establishments in ZIP 35901, employing approximately 7,804 people with a combined annual payroll of $341,690,000.

635

Businesses

7,804

Employees

$341.7M

Annual Payroll

17

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Health care and social assistance 127 20.0%
Retail trade 107 16.9%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 72 11.3%
Finance and insurance 70 11.0%
Accommodation and food services 57 9.0%
Other services (except public administration) 55 8.7%
Real estate and rental and leasing 29 4.6%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 26 4.1%
Construction 21 3.3%
Wholesale trade 18 2.8%
Manufacturing 13 2.0%
Information 12 1.9%
Transportation and warehousing 8 1.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 8 1.3%
Management of companies and enterprises 5 0.8%
Educational services 4 0.6%
Utilities 3 0.5%

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 35901 vs 35903 →

ZIP 35901 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 35901 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 35901 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 35901 ranks #4 of 5 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
35903 Gadsden, AL 18,088 3.9 mi
35904 Gadsden, AL 14,194 4.2 mi
35905 Gadsden, AL 6,410 8.0 mi
35954 Attalla, AL 12,416 8.2 mi

More ZIP Codes in Etowah County

35903 standard
Gadsden, AL
Pop: 18,088
35904 standard
Gadsden, AL
Pop: 14,194
36272 standard
Piedmont, AL
Pop: 13,389
35954 standard
Attalla, AL
Pop: 12,416
35906 standard
Rainbow City, AL
Pop: 9,897
35956 standard
Boaz, AL
Pop: 8,842

Related Areas

Etowah County Gadsden, AL Alabama

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 35901 in? ▼
ZIP code 35901 (Gadsden) is located in Etowah County, Alabama. Etowah County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/etowah-al.
What is the population of ZIP code 35901? ▼
ZIP code 35901 in Gadsden, AL has a population of 20,045 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35901? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 35901 is $48,876, which is 36% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35901? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 35901 is $166,200, which is 40% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35901? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 35901 is White at 57.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 9.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35901? ▼
ZIP code 35901 has 635 business establishments employing approximately 7,804 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35901? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35901 are: Health care and social assistance (127), Retail trade (107), Professional, scientific, and technical services (72). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35901? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 35901 increased by 12.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 100%. 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 35901? ▼
In ZIP code 35901, 55.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 23.4% 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 35901? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 35901 is 21.8 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 35901? ▼
In ZIP code 35901, approximately 65.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 34.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35901? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35901 is 26.3% 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.