Residential delivery area · Alabama
ZIP Code 35903: Gadsden, AL
ZIP code 35903 uses the postal name Gadsden, Alabama and lies mostly in Etowah County (91% of its land) with the rest in Cherokee County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 17,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the 2nd most populous of Gadsden's 5 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $53,122 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Ballplay (17%), Hokes Bluff (15%) and Gadsden (13%), and 3% in smaller places; 53% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Gadsden · 5 residential ZIPs
- County
- Etowah County (91%); Cherokee County (9%)
- Census places
- Ballplay (17%) census-designated place; Hokes Bluff (15%); Gadsden (13%)
- Metro area
- Gadsden, AL
- House district
- AL-3 119th Congress
- State
- Alabama
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 68.2 sq mi · 251 people per sq mi
- PO Box ZIPs
- 35902 also use the name Gadsden
Where is ZIP code 35903?
35903 centers on 34.026°, -85.845° and covers 68.2 square miles of land plus 2.6 of water. It borders 5 ZIP codes: 35901, 35905, 35983, 36272, 35960.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 35903, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 35903 compare with the rest of Gadsden?
| Measure | 35903 | In Gadsden | In Etowah County | In AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 17,113 | 2nd of 5 | 2nd of 13 | 96th of 656 |
| Median household income | $53k | 3rd of 5 | 6th of 11 | 234th of 370 |
| Median home value | $172k | 3rd of 5 | 5th of 10 | 201st of 386 |
Its median household income is higher than in 18% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 65% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 35903?
The 2020 Census counted 17,344 people in 35903; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 17,113. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell 4.1% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 17,113
- 2020 Census count
- 17,344−4.1% since 2010 (18,088)
- Households
- 6,872
- Median age
- 44.1
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 35903?
Of the 17,113 people the ACS estimates in 35903, 17.4% are under 18 and 17.5% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (61.3%), then Black (not Hispanic) (30.4%).
- Under 1817.4%
- 18 to 6465.1%
- 65 and older17.5%
- White, not Hispanic61.3%
- Black, not Hispanic30.4%
- Hispanic or Latino4.9%
- Other or two or more2.6%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 35903 earn?
Median household income is $53,122 (ACS 2020-2024), the 6th highest of the 11 ranked ZIP codes in Etowah County. It rose from $46,002 in 2015-2019 (in 2024 dollars), a change larger than the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $53,122
- Income per person
- $30,903
- Below the poverty line
- 15.3%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 4.0%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 18.1%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $50,7817,080 returns; wages 74% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 35903?
FHFA's house price index for 35903, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 72% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 55% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +2.2% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $172,300
- Median gross rent
- $861
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 65.4%
- Housing units
- 8,449
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 35903?
341 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 13 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade75
- Health care and social assistance61
- Accommodation and food services46
- Other services (except public administration)46
- Construction23
- Finance and insurance19
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 35903?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35901 | Gadsden | 18,769 | $49k | 5.3 mi |
| 35905 | Gadsden | 6,452 | $67k | 6.3 mi |
| 35983 | Leesburg | 3,572 | $64k | 11.1 mi |
| 36272 | Piedmont | 12,954 | $52k | 15.0 mi |
| 35960 | Centre | 9,703 | $53k | 17.5 mi |
| 35904 | Gadsden | 14,015 | $44k | 8.9 mi (near) |
| 36279 | Wellington | 3,071 | $53k | 10.9 mi (near) |
| 36265 | Jacksonville | 22,452 | $55k | 12.8 mi (near) |
| 35954 | Attalla | 12,054 | $60k | 12.9 mi (near) |
| 35907 | Gadsden | 9,357 | $76k | 13.6 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.