ZIP Code 35986
standardSource:
Rainsville · DeKalb County · Alabama
- Population
- 7,744
- Median income
- $68,056
- Median home value
- $221,600
- Bachelor's or higher
- 24.9%
- Land area
- 117.2 sq mi
66/sq mi
▼ 11% vs US
higher than 44% of US ZIPs
▼ 20% vs US
higher than 50% of US ZIPs
Median age 46.8
Chicago
ZIP code 35986 in Rainsville, Alabama has a population of 7,744. The median household income is $68,056, which is 11% below the national average. Median home value is $221,600, 20% below the US average. 24.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 35986 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 117.2 square miles in Rainsville, DeKalb County, Alabama. The area is home to 7,744 residents, producing a population density of 66 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 35986 against Alabama and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 35986 sits at $68,056 (12% above the Alabama average), while per-capita income is $34,065. The poverty rate stands at 8.0% and the unemployment rate at 1.0%. On housing, the median home value is $221,600 (25% above the state average) with median rent at $558 per month, and 89.5% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 35986 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 24.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 46.8, and the average commute is 21 minutes. We also surface 7 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing DeKalb County, so you can benchmark 35986 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 35986
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35986.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
44 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
28 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
24 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
18 establishments
- Finance and insurance 14
Finance and insurance
14 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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 35986, Rainsville, AL · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
7,744
Population
117.2
Area (sq mi)
66
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 35986?
46.8
Median Age
52.7%
Male
47.3%
Female
3.2%
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?
$68,056
Median Household Income
+12% vs state
$34,065
Per Capita Income
8.0%
Poverty Rate
1.0%
Unemployment Rate
20.9 min
Mean Commute Time
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?
3,766
Total Housing Units
3,464
Occupied Units
302
Vacant Units
2.37
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$221,600
Median Home Value
+25% vs state
$558
Median Rent
1992
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
+10.6%
YoY Change (2024)
217
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+117%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 35986 have increased 10.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +117% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.2% | 148 |
| 2021 | +11.2% | 165 |
| 2022 | +13.2% | 187 |
| 2023 | +5.3% | 197 |
| 2024 | +10.6% | 217 |
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 185 business establishments in ZIP 35986, employing approximately 2,571 people with a combined annual payroll of $110,537,000.
185
Businesses
2,571
Employees
$110.5M
Annual Payroll
12
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 44 | 23.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 28 | 15.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 24 | 13.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | 18 | 9.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 14 | 7.6% |
| Construction | 13 | 7.0% |
| Manufacturing | 13 | 7.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 8 | 4.3% |
| Information | 5 | 2.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 5 | 2.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 1.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3 | 1.6% |
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 35986 vs 35968 →
More ZIP Codes in DeKalb County
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Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 35986 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 35986? ▼
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How many businesses are in ZIP code 35986? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35986? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35986? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 35986? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 35986? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 35986? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35986? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Rainsville, AL
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.