ZIP Code 35903
standardSource:
Gadsden · Etowah County · Alabama
- Population
- 18,088
- Median income
- $53,122
- Median home value
- $172,300
- Bachelor's or higher
- 18.1%
- Land area
- 174.4 sq mi
104/sq mi
▼ 30% vs US
higher than 18% of US ZIPs
▼ 38% vs US
higher than 35% of US ZIPs
Median age 44.1
Chicago
ZIP code 35903 in Gadsden, Alabama has a population of 18,088. The median household income is $53,122, which is 30% below the national average. Median home value is $172,300, 38% below the US average. 18.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 35903 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 174.4 square miles in Gadsden, Etowah County, Alabama. The area is home to 18,088 residents, producing a population density of 104 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 35903 against Alabama and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 35903 sits at $53,122 (13% below the Alabama average), while per-capita income is $30,903. The poverty rate stands at 15.3% and the unemployment rate at 4.0%. On housing, the median home value is $172,300 (3% below the state average) with median rent at $861 per month, and 65.4% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 35903 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 18.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 44.1, and the average commute is 26 minutes. We also surface 4 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Etowah County, so you can benchmark 35903 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 35903
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35903.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
75 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
61 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
46 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
46 establishments
- Construction 23
Construction
23 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 35903, Gadsden, 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
18,088
Population
174.4
Area (sq mi)
104
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 35903?
44.1
Median Age
46.4%
Male
53.6%
Female
3.0%
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?
$53,122
Median Household Income
-13% vs state
$30,903
Per Capita Income
15.3%
Poverty Rate
4.0%
Unemployment Rate
26.4 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?
8,449
Total Housing Units
6,872
Occupied Units
1,577
Vacant Units
2.46
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$172,300
Median Home Value
-3% vs state
$861
Median Rent
1972
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
+2.3%
YoY Change (2024)
210
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+110%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 35903 have increased 2.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +110% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.6% | 140 |
| 2021 | +13.4% | 158 |
| 2022 | +12.0% | 177 |
| 2023 | +15.8% | 206 |
| 2024 | +2.3% | 210 |
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 341 business establishments in ZIP 35903, employing approximately 7,275 people with a combined annual payroll of $302,058,000.
341
Businesses
7,275
Employees
$302.1M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 75 | 22.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 61 | 17.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 46 | 13.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 46 | 13.5% |
| Construction | 23 | 6.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 19 | 5.6% |
| Manufacturing | 16 | 4.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 16 | 4.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 11 | 3.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 8 | 2.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 5 | 1.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 4 | 1.2% |
| Educational services | 4 | 1.2% |
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 35903 vs 35901 →
More ZIP Codes in Etowah County
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Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 35903 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 35903? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 35903? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 35903? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35903? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35903? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35903? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35903? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 35903? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 35903? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 35903? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35903? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Gadsden, 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.