Boaz, AL · standard
ZIP Code 35956
Etowah County, Alabama - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 8,842
- 46/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $61,290
- Median income Below-median income area
- $181,900
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 18.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Boaz pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 31st pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 38th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 46
- people per sq mi
- 81%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35956 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 35956 (Boaz, AL) rose +11.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 225.9 in 2023 to 250.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 35956 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Boaz, Etowah County, Alabama, home to 8,842 residents across 191.0 square miles, a density of 46 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 35956 reports a modest median household income of $61,290 (1% above the average Alabama ZIP), while per-capita income is $28,465. The poverty rate is 17.1%, with unemployment at 5.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $181,900 (3% above the average Alabama ZIP) and median rent is $926; 80.5% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 18.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38, and the average commute is 26 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Etowah County, so 35956 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 35956
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Boaz, AL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35956.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
21 establishments
- Construction
Construction
11 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
9 establishments
- Transportation and warehousing 5
Transportation and warehousing
5 establishments
- Manufacturing 4
Manufacturing
4 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 35956, Boaz, 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
8,842
Population
191.0
Area (sq mi)
46
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 35956?
38.0
Median Age
51.8%
Male
48.2%
Female
0.4%
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?
$61,290
Median Household Income
+1% vs state ZIP avg
$28,465
Per Capita Income
17.1%
Poverty Rate
5.1%
Unemployment Rate
25.7 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 35956 ranks among Alabama ZIPs
Boaz, 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)
$61,290 Top 41% higher than 59% 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
3,946housing units
3,946
Total Housing Units
3,141
Occupied Units
805
Vacant Units
2.79
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$181,900
Median Home Value
+3% vs state ZIP avg
$926
Median Rent
1982
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
+11.0%
YoY Change (2024)
251
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+151%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 35956 have increased 11.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +151% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +8.0% | 153 |
| 2021 | +10.4% | 169 |
| 2022 | +16.9% | 197 |
| 2023 | +14.4% | 226 |
| 2024 | +11.0% | 251 |
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 72 business establishments in ZIP 35956, employing approximately 373 people with a combined annual payroll of $14,096,000.
72
Businesses
373
Employees
$14.1M
Annual Payroll
8
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 21 | 29.2% |
| Construction | 11 | 15.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 9 | 12.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 5 | 6.9% |
| Manufacturing | 4 | 5.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 4 | 5.6% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 4 | 5.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 4 | 5.6% |
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 35956 vs 35957 →
ZIP 35956 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35950
Albertville (35950)
20,826 residents
- 35957
Boaz (35957)
15,693 residents
- 35954
Attalla (35954)
12,416 residents
- 35956
Boaz (35956)
8,842 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 35956 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 35956 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 35956
Boaz (35956)
$61,290 median income
- 35954
Attalla (35954)
$59,479 median income
- 35950
Albertville (35950)
$57,329 median income
- 35957
Boaz (35957)
$51,406 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 35956 ranks the highest of 4 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 35956, 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 (8,842 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 35956 in?
ZIP code 35956 (Boaz) 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 35956?
ZIP code 35956 in Boaz, AL has a population of 8,842 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35956?
The median household income in ZIP 35956 is $61,290, which is 20% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35956?
The median home value in ZIP 35956 is $181,900, which is 35% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35956?
The largest racial group in ZIP 35956 is White at 95.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35956?
ZIP code 35956 has 72 business establishments employing approximately 373 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35956?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35956 are: Retail trade (21), Construction (11), Other services (except public administration) (9). There are 8 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35956?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 35956 increased by 11.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 151%. 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 35956?
In ZIP code 35956, 57.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 18.2% 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 35956?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 35956 is 25.7 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 35956?
In ZIP code 35956, approximately 80.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 19.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35956?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35956 is 17.1% 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 35956's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 35956 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Boaz, 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.