Altoona, AL · standard
ZIP Code 35952
Etowah County, Alabama - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 7,727
- 27/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $48,361
- Median income Below-median income area
- $117,500
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 11.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Altoona pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 12th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 16th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 27
- people per sq mi
- 81%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35952 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 35952 (Altoona, AL) rose +13.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 166.9 in 2023 to 189.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 35952 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Altoona, Etowah County, Alabama, home to 7,727 residents across 284.1 square miles, a density of 27 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 35952 reports a modest median household income of $48,361 (21% below the average Alabama ZIP), while per-capita income is $25,477. The poverty rate is 22.2%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $117,500 (34% below the average Alabama ZIP), and median rent is $647; owner occupancy is 81.0%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 11.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.9, and the average commute is 34 minutes. The page also surfaces 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Etowah County, so 35952 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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 35952
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Altoona, AL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35952.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
23 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
12 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
11 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 8
Health care and social assistance
8 establishments
- Construction 6
Construction
6 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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 35952, Altoona, 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
7,727
Population
284.1
Area (sq mi)
27
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 35952?
40.9
Median Age
52.0%
Male
48.0%
Female
7.2%
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?
$48,361
Median Household Income
-21% vs state ZIP avg
$25,477
Per Capita Income
22.2%
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Unemployment Rate
33.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 35952 ranks among Alabama ZIPs
Altoona, AL household income vs. every Alabama ZIP code
Median household income among 587 reporting Alabama ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$48,361 29th percentile higher than 29% of 587 Alabama ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Alabama 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
3,634housing units
3,634
Total Housing Units
3,107
Occupied Units
527
Vacant Units
2.70
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$117,500
Median Home Value
-34% vs state ZIP avg
$647
Median Rent
1986
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
+13.7%
YoY Change (2024)
190
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+90%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 35952 have increased 13.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +90% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +19.3% | 144 |
| 2021 | +11.8% | 161 |
| 2022 | +17.5% | 189 |
| 2023 | -11.7% | 167 |
| 2024 | +13.7% | 190 |
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 89 business establishments in ZIP 35952, employing approximately 699 people with a combined annual payroll of $25,247,000.
89
Businesses
699
Employees
$25.2M
Annual Payroll
11
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 23 | 25.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 12 | 13.5% |
| Accommodation and food services | 11 | 12.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 8 | 9.0% |
| Construction | 6 | 6.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 6 | 6.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 6 | 6.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 4 | 4.5% |
| Manufacturing | 3 | 3.4% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 3 | 3.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 3 | 3.4% |
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 35952 vs 35990 →
ZIP 35952 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35957
Boaz (35957)
15,693 residents
- 35121
Oneonta (35121)
15,570 residents
- 35952
Altoona (35952)
7,727 residents
- 35980 5,161
Horton (35980)
5,161 residents
- 35987 2,666
Steele (35987)
2,666 residents
- 35972 1,139
Gallant (35972)
1,139 residents
- 35990 38
Walnut Grove (35990)
38 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 35952 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 35952 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35987
Steele (35987)
$78,906 median income
- 35121
Oneonta (35121)
$60,177 median income
- 35980
Horton (35980)
$57,277 median income
- 35957
Boaz (35957)
$51,406 median income
- 35952
Altoona (35952)
$48,361 median income
- 35972
Gallant (35972)
$42,457 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 35952 ranks #5 of 6 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 35952, both outside AL so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (7,727 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Etowah County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 35952 in?
ZIP code 35952 (Altoona) 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 35952?
ZIP code 35952 in Altoona, AL has a population of 7,727 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35952?
The median household income in ZIP 35952 is $48,361, which is 37% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35952?
The median home value in ZIP 35952 is $117,500, which is 58% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35952?
The largest racial group in ZIP 35952 is White at 90.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 12.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35952?
ZIP code 35952 has 89 business establishments employing approximately 699 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35952?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35952 are: Retail trade (23), Other services (except public administration) (12), Accommodation and food services (11). There are 11 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35952?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 35952 increased by 13.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 90%. 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 35952?
In ZIP code 35952, 49.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 11.1% 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 35952?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 35952 is 33.6 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 35952?
In ZIP code 35952, approximately 81.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 19.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35952?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35952 is 22.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 35952's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 35952 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Altoona, AL ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.