Valley, AL · standard
ZIP Code 36854
Chambers County, Alabama - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 14,576
- 96/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $55,973
- Median income Below-median income area
- $160,100
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 17.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Valley pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 22nd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 30th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 96
- people per sq mi
- 73%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 36854 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 36854 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Valley, Chambers County, Alabama, home to 14,576 residents across 152.5 square miles, a density of 96 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 36854 reports a modest median household income of $55,973 (8% below the average Alabama ZIP), while per-capita income is $30,238. The poverty rate is 13.9%, with unemployment at 2.8%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $160,100 (10% below the average Alabama ZIP) and median rent is $1,060; 73.2% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 17.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.8, and the average commute is 24 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 3 more in Chambers County, so 36854 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 36854
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Valley, AL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 36854.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
43 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
36 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
34 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
31 establishments
- Construction
Construction
19 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 36854, Valley, 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
14,576
Population
152.5
Area (sq mi)
96
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 36854?
38.8
Median Age
49.5%
Male
50.5%
Female
3.0%
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?
$55,973
Median Household Income
-8% vs state ZIP avg
$30,238
Per Capita Income
13.9%
Poverty Rate
2.8%
Unemployment Rate
23.7 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 36854 ranks among Alabama ZIPs
Valley, 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)
$55,973 Top 50% higher than 50% 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
7,974housing units
7,974
Total Housing Units
6,468
Occupied Units
1,506
Vacant Units
2.53
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$160,100
Median Home Value
-10% vs state ZIP avg
$1,060
Median Rent
1988
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
+0.4%
YoY Change (2024)
258
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+158%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 36854 have increased 0.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +158% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.1% | 160 |
| 2021 | +13.9% | 182 |
| 2022 | +15.8% | 211 |
| 2023 | +22.1% | 257 |
| 2024 | +0.4% | 258 |
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 236 business establishments in ZIP 36854, employing approximately 3,179 people with a combined annual payroll of $133,804,000.
236
Businesses
3,179
Employees
$133.8M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 43 | 18.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 36 | 15.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 34 | 14.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 31 | 13.1% |
| Construction | 19 | 8.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 17 | 7.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 16 | 6.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 14 | 5.9% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 8 | 3.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 5 | 2.1% |
| Manufacturing | 4 | 1.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 4 | 1.7% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 1.3% |
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 36854 vs 36852 →
ZIP 36854 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 36854
Valley (36854)
14,576 residents
- 36863
Lanett (36863)
11,672 residents
- 31833
West Point (31833)
6,900 residents
- 36852 2,129
Cusseta (36852)
2,129 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 36854 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 36854 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 36852
Cusseta (36852)
$71,071 median income
- 31833
West Point (31833)
$61,348 median income
- 36854
Valley (36854)
$55,973 median income
- 36863
Lanett (36863)
$51,130 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 36854 ranks #3 of 4 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 36854, 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 (14,576 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Chambers County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 36854 in?
ZIP code 36854 (Valley) is located in Chambers County, Alabama. Chambers County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/chambers-al.
What is the population of ZIP code 36854?
ZIP code 36854 in Valley, AL has a population of 14,576 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 36854?
The median household income in ZIP 36854 is $55,973, which is 27% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 36854?
The median home value in ZIP 36854 is $160,100, which is 42% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 36854?
The largest racial group in ZIP 36854 is White at 67.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 36854?
ZIP code 36854 has 236 business establishments employing approximately 3,179 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 36854?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 36854 are: Retail trade (43), Other services (except public administration) (36), Accommodation and food services (34). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 36854?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 36854 increased by 0.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 158%. 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 36854?
In ZIP code 36854, 55.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 17.6% 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 36854?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 36854 is 23.7 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 36854?
In ZIP code 36854, approximately 73.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 26.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 36854?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 36854 is 13.9% 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 36854's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 36854 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Valley, 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.