ZIP Code 36874
standardSource:
Salem · Lee County · Alabama
- Population
- 7,901
- Median income
- $66,986
- Median home value
- $194,900
- Bachelor's or higher
- 23.0%
- Land area
- 288.4 sq mi
27/sq mi
▼ 12% vs US
higher than 42% of US ZIPs
▼ 30% vs US
higher than 42% of US ZIPs
Median age 49
Chicago
ZIP code 36874 in Salem, Alabama has a population of 7,901. The median household income is $66,986, which is 12% below the national average. Median home value is $194,900, 30% below the US average. 23.0% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 36874 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 288.4 square miles in Salem, Lee County, Alabama. The area is home to 7,901 residents, producing a population density of 27 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 36874 against Alabama and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 36874 sits at $66,986 (10% above the Alabama average), while per-capita income is $36,621. The poverty rate stands at 9.1% and the unemployment rate at 1.0%. On housing, the median home value is $194,900 (10% above the state average) with median rent at $1,074 per month, and 90.7% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 36874 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 23.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 49, and the average commute is 30 minutes. We also surface 4 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Lee County, so you can benchmark 36874 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 36874
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 36874.
- Construction
Construction
18 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
12 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
9 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 7
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
7 establishments
- Manufacturing 6
Manufacturing
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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, 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; HUD FMR + 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
Who lives in ZIP 36874?
49.0
Median Age
50.5%
Male
49.5%
Female
4.2%
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?
$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
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?
4,197
Total Housing Units
3,643
Occupied Units
554
Vacant Units
2.50
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$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 →
More ZIP Codes in Lee County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 36874 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 36874? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 36874? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 36874? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 36874? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 36874? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 36874? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 36874? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 36874? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 36874? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 36874? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 36874? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Salem, AL
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.