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 Moderate-density area
- $56,994
- Median income Below-median income area
- $160,000
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 15.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 36312 (Ashford, AL) rose +2.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 163.3 in 2023 to 167.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average Alabama ZIP), while per-capita income is $32,081. The poverty rate is 17.4%, with unemployment at 3.5%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $160,000 (10% below the average Alabama ZIP) and median rent is $884; 76.0% of occupied homes 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. The page also surfaces 5 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Houston County, so 36312 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 36312
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Ashford, AL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 36312.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
15 establishments
- Construction
Construction
10 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
10 establishments
- Transportation and warehousing
Transportation and warehousing
7 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
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 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
Who lives in ZIP 36312?
42.0
Median Age
49.5%
Male
50.5%
Female
2.0%
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?
$56,994
Median Household Income
-6% vs state ZIP avg
$32,081
Per Capita Income
17.4%
Poverty Rate
3.5%
Unemployment Rate
24.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 36312 ranks among Alabama ZIPs
Ashford, 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)
$56,994 Top 48% higher than 52% 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
2,830housing units
2,830
Total Housing Units
2,402
Occupied Units
428
Vacant Units
2.60
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$160,000
Median Home Value
-10% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 36312
Ashford (36312)
6,187 residents
- 36320
Cottonwood (36320)
3,837 residents
- 36376 2,445
Webb (36376)
2,445 residents
- 36321 1,632
Cowarts (36321)
1,632 residents
- 36343 1,579
Gordon (36343)
1,579 residents
- 36370 972
Pansey (36370)
972 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 36312 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 36312 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 36321
Cowarts (36321)
$64,267 median income
- 36312
Ashford (36312)
$56,994 median income
- 36370
Pansey (36370)
$51,765 median income
- 36320
Cottonwood (36320)
$50,000 median income
- 36376
Webb (36376)
$49,700 median income
- 36343
Gordon (36343)
$47,188 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.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 36312, 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 (6,187 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Houston County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 36312's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 36312 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Ashford, 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.