PlainZIP

Salem, AL · standard

ZIP Code 36874

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

7,901
27/sq mi
$66,986
Median income
$194,900
Median home value
23.0%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Salem pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

42th pct
household income, US ZIPs
42th pct
home value, US ZIPs
27
people per sq mi
91%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 36874 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 36874 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Salem, Lee County, Alabama, home to 7,901 residents across 288.4 square miles, a density of 27 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 36874 reports a modest median household income of $66,986 (10% above the Alabama average), while per-capita income is $36,621. Poverty here runs at 9.1%, with unemployment measured at 1.0%. The typical home here is valued at $194,900 (10% above the state average); renters pay a median of $1,074 monthly, and 90.7% of units are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 23.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 49, and the average commute is 30 minutes. To put 36874 in local context, 4 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Lee County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 36874

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Salem, AL

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 36874.

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 36874, Salem, 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

7,901

Population

288.4

Area (sq mi)

27

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 36874?

49.0

Median Age

50.5%

Male

49.5%

Female

4.2%

Foreign-Born

White 83.1%
African American 13.9%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 2.3%
Hispanic or Latino 2.1%

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?

$66,986

Median Household Income

+10% vs state

$36,621

Per Capita Income

9.1%

Poverty Rate

1.0%

Unemployment Rate

30.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 36874 ranks nationally

Salem, AL household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$66,986 42nd percentile higher than 42% 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%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $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 54.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 23.0%

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

What does housing look like?

4,197

Total Housing Units

3,643

Occupied Units

554

Vacant Units

2.50

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 90.7%
Renter 9.3%

$194,900

Median Home Value

+10% vs state

$1,074

Median Rent

1998

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

+2.3%

YoY Change (2024)

237

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+137%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 36874 have increased 2.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +137% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +1.3% 157
2021 +9.9% 172
2022 +17.9% 203
2023 +13.8% 231
2024 +2.3% 237

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 81 business establishments in ZIP 36874, employing approximately 606 people with a combined annual payroll of $29,591,000.

81

Businesses

606

Employees

$29.6M

Annual Payroll

10

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 18 22.2%
Other services (except public administration) 12 14.8%
Retail trade 9 11.1%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 7 8.6%
Manufacturing 6 7.4%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 6 7.4%
Wholesale trade 5 6.2%
Transportation and warehousing 5 6.2%
Real estate and rental and leasing 4 4.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 3 3.7%

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 36874 vs 36877 →

ZIP 36874 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 36874 ranks #5 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 36874 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 36874 ranks #3 of 5 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
36877 Smiths Station, AL 11,414 6.2 mi
36870 Phenix City, AL 18,783 7.5 mi
36804 Opelika, AL 16,861 8.3 mi
36869 Phenix City, AL 18,751 12.4 mi

More ZIP Codes in Lee County

36830 standard
Auburn, AL
Pop: 33,201
36801 standard
Opelika, AL
Pop: 22,214
36832 standard
Auburn, AL
Pop: 22,071
36870 standard
Phenix City, AL
Pop: 18,783
36804 standard
Opelika, AL
Pop: 16,861
36877 standard
Smiths Station, AL
Pop: 11,414

Related Areas

Lee County Salem, AL Alabama

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 36874 in? ▼
ZIP code 36874 (Salem) is located in Lee County, Alabama. Lee County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/lee-al.
What is the population of ZIP code 36874? ▼
ZIP code 36874 in Salem, AL has a population of 7,901 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 36874? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 36874 is $66,986, which is 12% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 36874? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 36874 is $194,900, which is 30% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 36874? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 36874 is White at 83.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 36874? ▼
ZIP code 36874 has 81 business establishments employing approximately 606 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 36874? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 36874 are: Construction (18), Other services (except public administration) (12), Retail trade (9). There are 10 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 36874? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 36874 increased by 2.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 137%. 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 36874? ▼
In ZIP code 36874, 54.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 23.0% 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 36874? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 36874 is 30.1 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 36874? ▼
In ZIP code 36874, approximately 90.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 9.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 36874? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 36874 is 9.1% 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.