ZIP Code 35401: Population, Income, Housing

State: AL
Total population: 43,459 Household income: $29,152 Rent: $951

Overview

Total population
43,459
Rent
$951
Year built
1979
Household income
$29,152
Per capita income
$18,050
Poverty rate
43.5%
Unemployment rate
N/A
Household size
2.3 persons
Rent over 30% of income
60.5%

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
Tuscaloosa County
City
Tuscaloosa
Total population
43,459
Adults over 25
17,096
Total households
14,212
Household size
2.3 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
$29,152
Per capita income
$18,050
Poverty rate
43.5%
Unemployment rate
N/A
Rent over 30% of income
60.5%

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
$951
Year built
1979
Households that rent
73%
Households that own
27%
Rooms per home (all homes)
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.

Race

White
48.1%
Black
43.8%
Asian
2.2%
Two or more races
4.7%

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
4.3%
Not Hispanic or Latino
95.7%

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
14,259 (89.7%)
Commute time to work
19 mins
Work from home
1,644 (10.3%)

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
31.7%
High school graduate or GED
30.7%
Some college or associate degree
9.7%
Bachelor’s degree or higher
28%

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 35401 with: Tuscaloosa County, AL Alabama United States

ZIP 35401

Total population43,459
Rent$951
Year built1979
Household income$29,152
Per capita income$18,050
Poverty rate43.5%
Unemployment rateN/A

Tuscaloosa County, AL

Total population237,552
Rent$1,037
Year built1992
Household income$66,231
Per capita income$35,007
Poverty rate16.8%
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 ZIP35401 CountyTuscaloosa, ALStateAlabamaCountryUnited States
Total population43,459237,5525,086,768334,922,499
Rent$951$1,037$1,007$1,413
Year built1979199219861980
Household income$29,152$66,231$63,999$80,734
Per capita income$18,050$35,007$36,087$44,673
Poverty rate43.5%16.8%15.6%12.5%
Unemployment rateN/A2.9%3.1%4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

 

Loading...

 

Summary for 35401

Rent & Income

In 35401, the typical monthly rent is $951 and the typical household income is $29,152. Rent here is lower than Alabama, and household income is lower than Alabama. The estimated poverty rate is 43.5%.

Housing & Affordability

Most households in this area are renters (73%), making this a heavily renter area. About 60.5% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 28% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.

 

ZIP 35401 — Rent vs Household Income

 

 

ZIP 35401 — Poverty

 

 

How ZIP 35401 compares in Alabama (29 ZIP Codes)

Metric This ZIP Rank Starts from State range
Rent $951 6 / 29 from lower rent $820 – $1,542
Household income $29,152 29 / 29 from higher income $29,152 – $124,516
Poverty rate 43.5% 29 / 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 35401

Rent

In terms of rental prices, this ZIP stands 6th out of 29 ZIP Codes in Alabama. Across Alabama, figures vary from $820 in ZIP 35630 up to $1,542 in ZIP 35749.

Household income

When comparing household incomes, ZIP Code 35401 stands 29th out of 29 ZIP Codes. Throughout Alabama, numbers span from $29,152 in ZIP 35401 up to $124,516 in ZIP 35226.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty indicators, this ZIP stands 29th out of 29 ZIP Codes. At the state level, values extend from 2.6% in ZIP 35173 up to 43.5% in ZIP 35401.

 

💰 Rent in ZIP Code 35401 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $951 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 35401

Annual Household Income: $29,152

💡 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 35401

Estimated Rate: 43.5%

💡 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 35401

In ZIP Code 35401, households that rent: 10,369 (73%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this ZIP Code?
Household Type Count Share
Renter-Occupied 10,369 73%
Owner-Occupied 3,843 27%

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 35401

In ZIP Code 35401, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 6,275 (60.5%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?
Household Group Households Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%) 6,275 60.5%
Other renter households 4,094 39.5%
Total renter households 10,369 100%

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 35401

Less than High School: 5,411 people (31.7%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 5,245 people (30.7%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 1,655 people (9.7%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 4,785 people (28%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 17,096

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.