PlainZIP

Gadsden, AL · standard

ZIP Code 35904

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

14,194
119/sq mi
$43,771
Median income
$117,700
Median home value
12.4%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Gadsden pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

8th pct
household income, US ZIPs
16th pct
home value, US ZIPs
119
people per sq mi
72%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35904 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 35904 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Gadsden, Etowah County, Alabama, home to 14,194 residents across 119.6 square miles, a density of 119 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 35904 reports a modest median household income of $43,771 (28% below the Alabama average), while per-capita income is $22,123. The poverty rate stands at 25.6% and the unemployment rate at 8.3%. Median home value sits at $117,700 (34% below the state average), median rent at $817 a month, and owner-occupancy at 72.0%.

Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 12.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.1, and the average commute is 21 minutes. Beyond these figures, 5 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Etowah County, letting you compare 35904 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline 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 35904

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Gadsden, AL

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35904.

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 35904, 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

14,194

Population

119.6

Area (sq mi)

119

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 35904?

39.1

Median Age

49.2%

Male

50.8%

Female

3.0%

Foreign-Born

White 76.9%
African American 13.8%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 2.6%
Hispanic or Latino 8.8%

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?

$43,771

Median Household Income

-28% vs state

$22,123

Per Capita Income

25.6%

Poverty Rate

8.3%

Unemployment Rate

20.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 35904 ranks nationally

Gadsden, AL household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$43,771 8th percentile higher than 8% 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 51.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 12.4%

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

What does housing look like?

6,206

Total Housing Units

5,106

Occupied Units

1,100

Vacant Units

2.71

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 72.0%
Renter 28.0%

$117,700

Median Home Value

-34% vs state

$817

Median Rent

1961

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

+7.2%

YoY Change (2024)

203

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+103%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 35904 have increased 7.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +103% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +1.9% 139
2021 +4.5% 145
2022 +27.3% 185
2023 +2.4% 190
2024 +7.2% 203

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 159 business establishments in ZIP 35904, employing approximately 3,922 people with a combined annual payroll of $169,421,000.

159

Businesses

3,922

Employees

$169.4M

Annual Payroll

13

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 30 18.9%
Other services (except public administration) 27 17.0%
Accommodation and food services 18 11.3%
Manufacturing 17 10.7%
Health care and social assistance 15 9.4%
Wholesale trade 9 5.7%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 9 5.7%
Construction 7 4.4%
Transportation and warehousing 7 4.4%
Finance and insurance 5 3.1%
Real estate and rental and leasing 4 2.5%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 4 2.5%
Information 3 1.9%

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 35904 vs 35954 →

ZIP 35904 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 35904 ranks #3 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 35904 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 35904 ranks #6 of 6 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
35954 Attalla, AL 12,416 4.0 mi
35901 Gadsden, AL 20,045 4.2 mi
35903 Gadsden, AL 18,088 8.1 mi
35905 Gadsden, AL 6,410 10.8 mi
35906 Rainbow City, AL 9,897 11.0 mi

More ZIP Codes in Etowah County

35901 standard
Gadsden, AL
Pop: 20,045
35903 standard
Gadsden, AL
Pop: 18,088
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 35904 in? ▼
ZIP code 35904 (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 35904? ▼
ZIP code 35904 in Gadsden, AL has a population of 14,194 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35904? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 35904 is $43,771, which is 43% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35904? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 35904 is $117,700, which is 58% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35904? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 35904 is White at 76.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 8.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35904? ▼
ZIP code 35904 has 159 business establishments employing approximately 3,922 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35904? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35904 are: Retail trade (30), Other services (except public administration) (27), Accommodation and food services (18). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35904? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 35904 increased by 7.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 103%. 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 35904? ▼
In ZIP code 35904, 51.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 12.4% 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 35904? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 35904 is 20.9 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 35904? ▼
In ZIP code 35904, approximately 72.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 28.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35904? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35904 is 25.6% 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.