PlainZIP

Ashford, AL · standard

ZIP Code 36312

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

6,187
31/sq mi
$56,994
Median income
$160,000
Median home value
15.8%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Ashford pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

24th pct
household income, US ZIPs
30th pct
home value, US ZIPs
31
people per sq mi
76%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 36312 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 36312 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Ashford, Houston County, Alabama, home to 6,187 residents across 199.6 square miles, a density of 31 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 36312 reports a modest median household income of $56,994 (6% below the Alabama average), while per-capita income is $32,081. 17.4% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 3.5%. On housing, the median home value is $160,000 (10% below the state average) with median rent at $884 per month, and 76.0% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 15.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42, and the average commute is 24 minutes. We also surface 5 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Houston County, so you can benchmark 36312 against its immediate geography rather than a national average 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 36312

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Ashford, AL

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 36312.

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 36312, Ashford, 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

6,187

Population

199.6

Area (sq mi)

31

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 36312?

42.0

Median Age

49.5%

Male

50.5%

Female

2.0%

Foreign-Born

White 81.5%
African American 10.2%
Asian 0.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.3%
Hispanic or Latino 4.0%

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?

$56,994

Median Household Income

-6% vs state

$32,081

Per Capita Income

17.4%

Poverty Rate

3.5%

Unemployment Rate

24.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 36312 ranks nationally

Ashford, AL household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$56,994 24th percentile higher than 24% 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 51.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 15.8%

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

What does housing look like?

2,830

Total Housing Units

2,402

Occupied Units

428

Vacant Units

2.60

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 76.0%
Renter 24.0%

$160,000

Median Home Value

-10% vs state

$884

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

+2.8%

YoY Change (2024)

168

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+68%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 36312 have increased 2.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +68% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 -2.8% 131
2021 +10.4% 145
2022 +20.6% 175
2023 -6.5% 163
2024 +2.8% 168

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 78 business establishments in ZIP 36312, employing approximately 973 people with a combined annual payroll of $37,898,000.

78

Businesses

973

Employees

$37.9M

Annual Payroll

11

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 15 19.2%
Construction 10 12.8%
Accommodation and food services 10 12.8%
Transportation and warehousing 7 9.0%
Finance and insurance 6 7.7%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 6 7.7%
Other services (except public administration) 6 7.7%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 4 5.1%
Health care and social assistance 4 5.1%
Manufacturing 3 3.9%
Wholesale trade 3 3.9%

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 36312 vs 36321 →

ZIP 36312 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 36312 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 36312 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 36312 ranks #2 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
36321 Cowarts, AL 1,632 4.7 mi
36370 Pansey, AL 972 5.2 mi
36376 Webb, AL 2,445 6.2 mi
36320 Cottonwood, AL 3,837 9.5 mi
36343 Gordon, AL 1,579 10.5 mi

More ZIP Codes in Houston County

36301 standard
Dothan, AL
Pop: 35,759
36303 standard
Dothan, AL
Pop: 30,217
36305 standard
Dothan, AL
Pop: 14,470
36352 standard
Newton, AL
Pop: 4,885
36320 standard
Cottonwood, AL
Pop: 3,837
36376 standard
Webb, AL
Pop: 2,445

Related Areas

Houston County Ashford, AL Alabama

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 36312 in? ▼
ZIP code 36312 (Ashford) is located in Houston County, Alabama. Houston County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/houston-al.
What is the population of ZIP code 36312? ▼
ZIP code 36312 in Ashford, AL has a population of 6,187 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 36312? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 36312 is $56,994, which is 25% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 36312? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 36312 is $160,000, which is 42% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 36312? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 36312 is White at 81.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 36312? ▼
ZIP code 36312 has 78 business establishments employing approximately 973 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 36312? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 36312 are: Retail trade (15), Construction (10), Accommodation and food services (10). There are 11 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 36312? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 36312 increased by 2.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 68%. 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 36312? ▼
In ZIP code 36312, 51.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 15.8% 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 36312? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 36312 is 24.4 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 36312? ▼
In ZIP code 36312, approximately 76.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 24.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 36312? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 36312 is 17.4% 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.