PlainZIP

Mobile, AL · standard

ZIP Code 36609

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

25,846
1,417/sq mi
$49,830
Median income
$205,300
Median home value
34.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Mobile pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

14th pct
household income, US ZIPs
45th pct
home value, US ZIPs
1,417
people per sq mi
46%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 36609 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 36609 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama, with 25,846 residents across 18.2 square miles, a density of 1,417 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 36609 reports a modest median household income of $49,830 (18% below the Alabama average), while per-capita income is $34,729. Local economic indicators show a 17.6% poverty rate alongside 3.8% unemployment. On housing, the median home value is $205,300 (16% above the state average) with median rent at $1,087 per month, and 46.0% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 34.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 35.3, and the average commute is 24 minutes. Beyond these figures, 10 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Mobile County, letting you compare 36609 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline 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 36609

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Mobile, AL

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 36609.

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 36609, Mobile, 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

25,846

Population

18.2

Area (sq mi)

1,417

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 36609?

35.3

Median Age

44.8%

Male

55.2%

Female

6.4%

Foreign-Born

White 43.1%
African American 45.9%
Asian 4.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 4.6%
Hispanic or Latino 3.5%

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?

$49,830

Median Household Income

-18% vs state

$34,729

Per Capita Income

17.6%

Poverty Rate

3.8%

Unemployment Rate

23.8 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 36609 ranks nationally

Mobile, AL household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$49,830 14th percentile higher than 14% 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 63.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 34.5%

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

What does housing look like?

12,734

Total Housing Units

11,115

Occupied Units

1,619

Vacant Units

2.14

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 46.0%
Renter 54.0%

$205,300

Median Home Value

+16% vs state

$1,087

Median Rent

1981

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

+9.6%

YoY Change (2024)

210

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+110%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 36609 have increased 9.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +110% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +4.4% 145
2021 +16.4% 168
2022 +14.0% 192
2023 -0.4% 191
2024 +9.6% 210

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 706 business establishments in ZIP 36609, employing approximately 9,506 people with a combined annual payroll of $444,091,000.

706

Businesses

9,506

Employees

$444.1M

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Health care and social assistance 121 17.1%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 103 14.6%
Finance and insurance 94 13.3%
Retail trade 81 11.5%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 54 7.7%
Accommodation and food services 52 7.4%
Other services (except public administration) 48 6.8%
Real estate and rental and leasing 41 5.8%
Wholesale trade 29 4.1%
Construction 27 3.8%
Transportation and warehousing 13 1.8%
Information 12 1.7%
Management of companies and enterprises 10 1.4%
Educational services 10 1.4%
Manufacturing 5 0.7%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 5 0.7%

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 36609 vs 36693 →

ZIP 36609 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 36609 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 36609 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 36609 ranks #6 of 9 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
36693 Mobile, AL 17,847 2.5 mi
36688 Mobile, AL 659 2.7 mi
36606 Mobile, AL 18,733 3.5 mi
36618 Mobile, AL 16,737 5.2 mi
36607 Mobile, AL 6,852 4.3 mi
36619 Mobile, AL 14,269 4.9 mi
36604 Mobile, AL 10,456 5.8 mi
36615 Mobile, AL 391 6.0 mi
36617 Mobile, AL 13,967 5.5 mi
36605 Mobile, AL 30,111 5.7 mi

More ZIP Codes in Mobile County

36695 standard
Mobile, AL
Pop: 45,118
36608 standard
Mobile, AL
Pop: 36,864
36605 standard
Mobile, AL
Pop: 30,111
36582 standard
Theodore, AL
Pop: 24,624
36606 standard
Mobile, AL
Pop: 18,733
36575 standard
Semmes, AL
Pop: 18,345

Related Areas

Mobile County Mobile, AL Alabama

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 36609 in? ▼
ZIP code 36609 (Mobile) is located in Mobile County, Alabama. Mobile County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/mobile-al.
What is the population of ZIP code 36609? ▼
ZIP code 36609 in Mobile, AL has a population of 25,846 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 36609? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 36609 is $49,830, which is 35% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 36609? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 36609 is $205,300, which is 26% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 36609? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 36609 is African American at 45.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 36609? ▼
ZIP code 36609 has 706 business establishments employing approximately 9,506 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 36609? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 36609 are: Health care and social assistance (121), Professional, scientific, and technical services (103), Finance and insurance (94). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 36609? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 36609 increased by 9.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 110%. 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 36609? ▼
In ZIP code 36609, 63.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 34.5% 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 36609? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 36609 is 23.8 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 36609? ▼
In ZIP code 36609, approximately 46.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 54.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 36609? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 36609 is 17.6% 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.