PlainZIP

Gadsden, AL · standard

ZIP Code 35903

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

18,088
104/sq mi
$53,122
Median income
$172,300
Median home value
18.1%
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.

18th pct
household income, US ZIPs
35th pct
home value, US ZIPs
104
people per sq mi
65%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35903 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 35903 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Gadsden, Etowah County, Alabama, home to 18,088 residents across 174.4 square miles, a density of 104 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 35903 reports a modest median household income of $53,122 (13% below the Alabama average), while per-capita income is $30,903. Poverty here runs at 15.3%, with unemployment measured at 4.0%. The typical home here is valued at $172,300 (3% below the state average); renters pay a median of $861 monthly, and 65.4% of units are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 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 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 35903

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Gadsden, AL

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35903.

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 35903, 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

18,088

Population

174.4

Area (sq mi)

104

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 35903?

44.1

Median Age

46.4%

Male

53.6%

Female

3.0%

Foreign-Born

White 61.6%
African American 30.4%
Asian 0.8%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
Two or More Ethnicities 4.1%
Hispanic or Latino 4.9%

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

How ZIP 35903 ranks nationally

Gadsden, AL household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$53,122 18th percentile higher than 18% 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 45.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 18.1%

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

Owner 65.4%
Renter 34.6%

$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 →

ZIP 35903 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 35903 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 35903 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 35903 ranks #3 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
35901 Gadsden, AL 20,045 3.9 mi
35905 Gadsden, AL 6,410 6.8 mi
35904 Gadsden, AL 14,194 8.1 mi
35983 Leesburg, AL 3,738 11.3 mi

More ZIP Codes in Etowah County

35901 standard
Gadsden, AL
Pop: 20,045
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 35903 in? ▼
ZIP code 35903 (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 35903? ▼
ZIP code 35903 in Gadsden, AL has a population of 18,088 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35903? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 35903 is $53,122, which is 30% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35903? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 35903 is $172,300, which is 38% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35903? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 35903 is White at 61.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35903? ▼
ZIP code 35903 has 341 business establishments employing approximately 7,275 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35903? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35903 are: Retail trade (75), Health care and social assistance (61), Accommodation and food services (46). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35903? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 35903 increased by 2.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 110%. 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 35903? ▼
In ZIP code 35903, 45.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 18.1% 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 35903? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 35903 is 26.4 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 35903? ▼
In ZIP code 35903, approximately 65.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 34.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35903? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35903 is 15.3% 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.