36518 ZIP Code — Chatom, AL

Washington County, Alabama

ZIP code 36518 is located in Chatom, Alabama, within Washington County. It covers approximately 132.69 square miles and serves a population of 2,256 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Central (CT) timezone, served by area code 251.

About ZIP code 36518

The housing stock consists of predominantly single-family detached homes. Most homes were built in the 1990s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $168,000. Owner-occupancy is high at 84%, well above the national average.

The gap between median ($65,125) and mean household income suggests income inequality — a small number of higher earners pull the average up. 35% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 31 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 17% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of diabetes (16%), smoking (24%) compared to national benchmarks.

Overall, ZIP code 36518 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, high homeownership, and a significant Social Security-dependent population.

2,256

population

132.69

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Central (CT)

timezone

36518 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 36518

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 36518. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Chatom	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

36558 Millry (6.5 mi) 36583 Tibbie (8.9 mi) 36538 Frankville (11.6 mi) 36539 Fruitdale (11.9 mi) 36569 Saint Stephens (13.6 mi) 36585 Wagarville (14.5 mi) 39322 Buckatunna (17.3 mi) 36584 Vinegar Bend (17.8 mi) 36548 Leroy (18 mi) 36919 Silas (18.5 mi)

Demographics updated 06/2026

Population
Total population	2,256
Population density	17 / sq mi
State FIPS	01
County FIPS	129

Geography
Land area	132.69 sq mi
Water area	0.16 sq mi
Latitude	31.5119
Longitude	-88.2649
Timezone	Central (CT)
Area code	251

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 06/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	57.7%	54.5%	48.3%
$50k – $100k	21.8%	21.0%	29.3%
$100k – $200k	20.5%	19.7%	18.0%
Over $200k	0.0%	4.7%	4.4%

Demographics & statistics

2,256

Population

People per sq mi

55.2

Median age

$65,125

Median household income

$41,223

Per capita income

$168,000

Median home value

$646

Median monthly rent

83.8%

Home ownership

14.1%

Poverty rate

7.0%

Unemployment

1,025

Housing units

16.6%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

Under 5

5–9

10–14

15–19

20–24

130

25–34

135

111

35–44

116

105

45–54

108

118

55–59

122

163

60–64

168

147

65–74

152

117

75–84

121

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	318	14.1%
18 and over	1,938	85.9%
65 and over	563	25.0%
Median age	55.2 years

Race & ethnicity

White 86.3%

Black or African American 10.7%

Two or more races 2.9%

Group	Count	%
White	1,948	86.3%
Black or African American	242	10.7%
Two or more races	66	2.9%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	57.7%	54.5%	48.3%
$50k – $100k	21.8%	21.0%	29.3%
$100k – $200k	20.5%	19.7%	18.0%
Over $200k	0.0%	4.7%	4.4%

Under $10k 6.1%

$10k–$15k 9.3%

$15k–$25k 10.6%

$25k–$35k 4.6%

$35k–$50k 7.9%

$50k–$75k 13.9%

$75k–$100k 6.3%

$100k–$150k 19.5%

$150k–$200k 12.8%

$200k+ 8.9%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	6.1%
$10k–$15k	9.3%
$15k–$25k	10.6%
$25k–$35k	4.6%
$35k–$50k	7.9%
$50k–$75k	13.9%
$75k–$100k	6.3%
$100k–$150k	19.5%
$150k–$200k	12.8%
$200k+	8.9%
Median income	$65,125

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 11.9%

$50k–$100k 8.3%

$100k–$150k 12.2%

$150k–$200k 34.1%

$200k–$300k 18.3%

$300k–$500k 15.1%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$168,000
Median rent / month	$646
Owner occupied	83.8%
Renter occupied	16.2%
Vacant	27.7%
Single-family detached	80.6%
Large apartment buildings	0.0%
Mobile homes	13.4%
Median rooms	6.2
Avg household size (owned)	2.62

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.0%
2010–2019	2.0%
2000–2009	17.0%
1990–1999	22.3%
1980–1989	21.1%
1970–1979	11.1%
1960–1969	10.9%
1950–1959	9.2%
1940–1949	4.4%
1939 or earlier	2.1%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	0.9%
1 bedroom	2.4%
2 bedrooms	12.7%
3 bedrooms	57.6%
4 bedrooms	24.0%
5+ bedrooms	2.2%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	2.7%
1 vehicle	28.1%
2 vehicles	32.1%
3 or more	37.1%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	7.3%
Electricity	87.8%
Propane / LP gas	2.3%
Wood	2.6%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	508	60.5%
Cohabiting couple	22	2.6%
Male householder, no spouse	88	10.5%
Female householder, no spouse	221	26.3%
Households with children under 18	193	23.0%
Households with seniors (65+)	309	36.8%
Average household size	2.53

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	32.4%	15.7%
Married	60.1%	51.1%
Separated	0.7%	3.1%
Widowed	1.7%	17.3%
Divorced	5.1%	12.8%

Education

Less than 9th grade 4.0%

Some HS, no diploma 13.8%

HS graduate 33.1%

Some college, no degree 26.4%

Associate's degree 6.1%

Bachelor's degree 8.2%

Graduate / professional 8.4%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	82.2%
Bachelor's or higher	16.6%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	18	7.0%
Kindergarten	12	4.7%
Elementary school	92	35.8%
High school	60	23.3%
College / grad school	75	29.2%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 24.8%

Construction 14.2%

Manufacturing 12.4%

Other services 11.3%

Transportation & utilities 10.6%

Retail trade 8.7%

Agriculture & mining 6.7%

Professional & management 3.7%

Finance & real estate 2.8%

Public administration 2.1%

Arts, food & hospitality 2.0%

Wholesale trade 0.4%

Information 0.2%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	42.5%
Service	17.0%
Sales & office	8.8%
Natural resources & construction	21.1%
Production & transportation	10.5%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	80.6%
Government	13.7%
Self-employed	5.8%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	80.1%
Carpool	3.3%
Public transit	0.0%
Walk	0.0%
Work from home	14.1%
Other means	2.5%
Avg commute (minutes)	30.7

Poverty

All people 14.1%

Under 18 years 22.6%

18 and over 12.6%

Married-couple families 7.3%

Female-led households 34.8%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	35.0%
Retirement income	18.8%
Supplemental Security	8.9%
Cash public assistance	2.1%
Food stamps / SNAP	10.5%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	42.9%
High blood pressure	44.5%
High cholesterol	37.7%
Diabetes	15.5%
Heart disease	9.3%
Stroke	4.8%
Asthma	10.5%
Arthritis	35.8%
Kidney disease	4.0%
Pulmonary disease	11.9%
Cancer	7.3%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	24.3%
Binge drinking	13.8%
No physical activity	32.7%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	40.7%
Depression	27.8%
Fair or poor health	25.2%
Poor mental health	17.8%
Poor physical health	15.4%
No health insurance	18.5%
Visited doctor (checkup)	76.2%
Visited dentist	52.1%
Cholesterol screening	89.0%
Teeth loss	22.7%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	117	6.0%

Disability	%
Any disability	16.2%
Under 18	0.9%
18–64 years	11.2%
65 and over	39.3%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	72.1%
Public insurance	37.1%
No insurance	9.3%
Uninsured under 19	4.7%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	2,112	93.6%
Spanish	0	0.0%
Other Indo-European	0	0.0%
Asian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Other languages	0	0.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	2,256	100.0%
Born in same state	2,256	100.0%
Born in different state	1,854	82.2%
Foreign born	0	0.0%
Naturalized citizen	0	0.0%
Not a US citizen	0	0.0%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Italian	155	6.9%
French	126	5.6%

Ancestry	Count	%
Arab	121	5.4%
Polish	24	1.1%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	37.2%
Internet access	85.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 36518

What city is ZIP code 36518 in?

ZIP code 36518 is primarily assigned to Chatom, Alabama.

What county is ZIP code 36518 in?

ZIP code 36518 falls within Washington County, Alabama.

Is ZIP code 36518 mostly owner-occupied?

84% of occupied units in ZIP code 36518 are owner-occupied, well above the national average.

What are the health statistics for ZIP code 36518?

Health data for ZIP code 36518 shows elevated rates of diabetes (16%) and smoking (24%) compared to national benchmarks.

What is the typical home value in ZIP code 36518?

The median home value in ZIP code 36518 is $168,000.

What is the population of ZIP code 36518?

ZIP code 36518 has an estimated population of 2,256 residents, with a density of 17 people per square mile.

What timezone is ZIP code 36518 in?

ZIP code 36518 observes the CST timezone.