ZIP Code 35209: Population, Income, Housing

State: AL
Total population: 32,734 Household income: $71,439 Rent: $1,318

Overview

Total population
32,734
Rent
$1,318
Year built
1974
Household income
$71,439
Per capita income
$50,432
Poverty rate
17.3%
Unemployment rate
N/A
Household size
2.2 persons
Rent over 30% of income
55.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State
Alabama
County
Jefferson County
City
Homewood
Total population
32,734
Adults over 25
21,647
Total households
13,175
Household size
2.2 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Income & Poverty

Household income
$71,439
Per capita income
$50,432
Poverty rate
17.3%
Unemployment rate
N/A
Rent over 30% of income
55.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Housing

Rent
$1,318
Year built
1974
Households that rent
51.5%
Households that own
48.5%
Rooms per home (all homes)
4.9

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Race

White
66.6%
Black
24.8%
Asian
2%
Two or more races
4.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino
5.8%
Not Hispanic or Latino
94.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Commute

Commute rate
14,821 (87.1%)
Commute time to work
17 mins
Work from home
2,190 (12.9%)

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Education

Less than high school
16.9%
High school graduate or GED
18%
Some college or associate degree
8.2%
Bachelor’s degree or higher
56.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

 

Comparison of ZIP Code 35209 with: Jefferson County, AL Birmingham metro area, AL Alabama United States

ZIP 35209

Total population32,734
Rent$1,318
Year built1974
Household income$71,439
Per capita income$50,432
Poverty rate17.3%
Unemployment rateN/A

Jefferson County, AL

Total population667,755
Rent$1,193
Year built1975
Household income$66,388
Per capita income$41,013
Poverty rate15.7%
Unemployment rate3.2%

Birmingham Metro Area, AL

Total population1,184,613
Rent$1,172
Year built1983
Household income$71,498
Per capita income$40,359
Poverty rate13.8%
Unemployment rate2.9%

Alabama State

Total population5,086,768
Rent$1,007
Year built1986
Household income$63,999
Per capita income$36,087
Poverty rate15.6%
Unemployment rate3.1%

United States

Total population334,922,499
Rent$1,413
Year built1980
Household income$80,734
Per capita income$44,673
Poverty rate12.5%
Unemployment rate4%
Metric ZIP35209 CountyJefferson, ALMetro AreaBirmingham metro area, ALStateAlabamaCountryUnited States
Total population32,734667,7551,184,6135,086,768334,922,499
Rent$1,318$1,193$1,172$1,007$1,413
Year built19741975198319861980
Household income$71,439$66,388$71,498$63,999$80,734
Per capita income$50,432$41,013$40,359$36,087$44,673
Poverty rate17.3%15.7%13.8%15.6%12.5%
Unemployment rateN/A3.2%2.9%3.1%4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

 

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Summary for 35209

Rent & Income

In 35209, the typical monthly rent is $1,318 and the typical household income is $71,439. Rent here is higher than Alabama, and household income is higher than Alabama. The estimated poverty rate is 17.3%.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 51.5% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 55.2% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 56.9% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.

 

ZIP 35209 — Rent vs Household Income

 

 

ZIP 35209 — Poverty

 

 

How ZIP 35209 compares in Alabama (29 ZIP Codes)

Metric This ZIP Rank Starts from State range
Rent $1,318 21 / 29 from lower rent $820 – $1,542
Household income $71,439 15 / 29 from higher income $29,152 – $124,516
Poverty rate 17.3% 18 / 29 from lower poverty 2.6% – 43.5%

Rankings are calculated among ZIP Codes in Alabama with total population > 30,000 (year 2024).

 

Detailed Ranking Explanation for ZIP Code 35209

Rent

For rent, this ZIP is positioned 21st out of 29 ZIP Codes in Alabama. In Alabama as a whole, the range goes from $820 in ZIP 35630 up to $1,542 in ZIP 35749.

Household income

For household income, ZIP Code 35209 ranks 15th out of 29 ZIP Codes. Statewide, values range from $29,152 in ZIP 35401 up to $124,516 in ZIP 35226.

Poverty rate

For poverty levels, this ZIP is positioned 18th out of 29 ZIP Codes. Across Alabama, figures vary from 2.6% in ZIP 35173 up to 43.5% in ZIP 35401.

 

💰 Rent in ZIP Code 35209 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,318 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing — including the apartment or home and essential utilities like heat, water, and electricity.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in ZIP Code 35209

Annual Household Income: $71,439

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in the ZIP code — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in ZIP Code 35209

Estimated Rate: 17.3%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in ZIP Code 35209

In ZIP Code 35209, households that rent: 6,790 (51.5%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this ZIP Code?
Household Type Count Share
Renter-Occupied 6,790 51.5%
Owner-Occupied 6,385 48.5%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in ZIP Code 35209

In ZIP Code 35209, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 3,746 (55.2%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?
Household Group Households Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%) 3,746 55.2%
Other renter households 3,044 44.8%
Total renter households 6,790 100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in the ZIP code are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in ZIP Code 35209

Less than High School: 3,661 people (16.9%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 3,892 people (18%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 1,776 people (8.2%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 12,318 people (56.9%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 21,647

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

 

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.