Residential delivery area · Alabama
ZIP Code 35986: Rainsville, AL
ZIP code 35986 uses the postal name Rainsville, Alabama and lies entirely in DeKalb County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 8,200 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $68,056 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Rainsville (46%) and Shiloh (4%), and 4% in smaller places; 46% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Rainsville · its only residential ZIP
- County
- DeKalb County
- Census places
- Rainsville (46%); Shiloh (4%)
- Micro area
- Fort Payne, AL
- House district
- AL-4 119th Congress
- State
- Alabama
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 43.1 sq mi · 191 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 35986?
35986 centers on 34.505°, -85.840° and covers 43.1 square miles of land plus 0.0 of water. It borders 5 ZIP codes: 35968, 35988, 35971, 35744, 35978.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 35986, 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 35986 compare with the rest of DeKalb County?
| Measure | 35986 | In DeKalb County | In AL |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 8,207 | 6th of 21 | 214th of 656 |
| Median household income | $68k | 1st of 12 | 132nd of 370 |
| Median home value | $222k | 1st of 10 | 101st of 386 |
Its median household income is higher than in 44% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 62% 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 35986?
The 2020 Census counted 8,091 people in 35986; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 8,207. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 4.5% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 8,207
- 2020 Census count
- 8,091+4.5% since 2010 (7,744)
- Households
- 3,464
- Median age
- 46.8
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 35986?
Of the 8,207 people the ACS estimates in 35986, 19.8% are under 18 and 22.5% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (88.3%).
- Under 1819.8%
- 18 to 6457.7%
- 65 and older22.5%
- White, not Hispanic88.3%
- Other or two or more6.2%
- Hispanic or Latino4.1%
- Black, not Hispanic1.0%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.4%
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 35986 earn?
Median household income is $68,056 (ACS 2020-2024), the highest of the 12 ranked ZIP codes in DeKalb County. It rose from $44,957 in 2015-2019 (in 2024 dollars), a change larger than the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $68,056±$13,267
- Income per person
- $34,065
- Below the poverty line
- 8.0%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 1.0%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 24.9%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $62,5183,450 returns; wages 73% 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 35986?
FHFA's house price index for 35986, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 103% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 64% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +7.8% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $221,600
- Median gross rent
- $558
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 89.5%
- Housing units
- 3,766
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 35986?
185 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 9 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade44
- Health care and social assistance28
- Other services (except public administration)24
- Accommodation and food services18
- Finance and insurance14
- Construction13
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 35986?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35968 | Fort Payne | 4,763 | $44k | 3.5 mi |
| 35988 | Sylvania | 2,368 | $54k | 4.4 mi |
| 35971 | Fyffe | 4,452 | $59k | 6.9 mi |
| 35744 | Dutton | 2,574 | $55k | 8.3 mi |
| 35978 | Henagar | 5,580 | $56k | 11.4 mi |
| 35771 | Section | 3,414 | $52k | 9.7 mi (near) |
| 35963 | Dawson | 1,398 | $60k | 11.2 mi (near) |
| 35967 | Fort Payne | 16,957 | $47k | 11.2 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.