35217 ZIP Code — Birmingham, AL

Jefferson County, Alabama

ZIP code 35217 is located in Birmingham, Alabama, within Jefferson County. It covers approximately 17.69 square miles and serves a population of 12,630 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Central (CT) timezone, served by area code 205.

About ZIP code 35217

The housing stock consists of predominantly single-family detached homes. Most homes were built in the pre-1940, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $106,200. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 47%.

Median household income is $37,220. Poverty affects 25% of residents, above the national average. SNAP benefit usage at 29% of households reflects economic stress in the area. 39% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is production, transportation, and material moving, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 26 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 11% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of obesity (45%), diabetes (18%), smoking (23%) compared to national benchmarks. 18% of residents lack health insurance, above the national average.

Notable community characteristics include disability rates above the national average at 24%.

Overall, ZIP code 35217 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, economic challenges above the national average, a significant Social Security-dependent population, and elevated reliance on food assistance.

12,630

population

17.69

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Central (CT)

timezone

35217 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 35217

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 35217. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Birmingham	Acceptable
Birmingham	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

35068 Fultondale (3.6 mi) 35206 Birmingham (4 mi) 35212 Birmingham (4.1 mi) 35215 Birmingham (4.5 mi) 35234 Birmingham (5.2 mi) 35207 Birmingham (5.3 mi) 35222 Birmingham (5.9 mi) 35235 Birmingham (6.2 mi) 35246 Birmingham (6.5 mi) 35298 Birmingham (6.5 mi) 35282 Birmingham (6.5 mi) 35285 Birmingham (6.5 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	12,630
Population density	714 / sq mi
State FIPS	01
County FIPS	073

Geography
Land area	17.69 sq mi
Water area	0.08 sq mi
Latitude	33.6078
Longitude	-86.7593
Timezone	Central (CT)
Area code	205

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	67.4%	45.1%	48.3%
$50k – $100k	23.0%	29.1%	29.3%
$100k – $200k	8.0%	19.1%	18.0%
Over $200k	1.5%	6.7%	4.4%

Demographics & statistics

12,630

Population

714

People per sq mi

40.2

Median age

$37,220

Median household income

$22,564

Per capita income

$106,200

Median home value

$874

Median monthly rent

47.2%

Home ownership

25.3%

Poverty rate

9.1%

Unemployment

3,443

Housing units

10.7%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

329

Under 5

370

366

5–9

413

368

10–14

415

357

15–19

401

388

20–24

437

744

25–34

838

855

35–44

962

529

45–54

596

368

55–59

414

475

60–64

535

658

65–74

740

396

75–84

446

108

85+

122

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	2,659	21.1%
18 and over	9,971	78.9%
65 and over	2,470	19.6%
Median age	40.2 years

Race & ethnicity

Black or African American 51.4%

White 27.7%

Hispanic or Latino 9.7%

Other race 6.8%

Two or more races 3.9%

Asian 0.3%

Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%

American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%

Group	Count	%
Black or African American	7,192	51.4%
White	3,874	27.7%
Hispanic or Latino	1,362	9.7%
Other race	957	6.8%
Two or more races	542	3.9%
Asian	36	0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	22	0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native	7	0.1%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	67.4%	45.1%	48.3%
$50k – $100k	23.0%	29.1%	29.3%
$100k – $200k	8.0%	19.1%	18.0%
Over $200k	1.5%	6.7%	4.4%

Under $10k 12.9%

$10k–$15k 5.2%

$15k–$25k 14.5%

$25k–$35k 13.9%

$35k–$50k 16.2%

$50k–$75k 16.1%

$75k–$100k 11.1%

$100k–$150k 6.0%

$150k–$200k 1.6%

$200k+ 2.5%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	12.9%
$10k–$15k	5.2%
$15k–$25k	14.5%
$25k–$35k	13.9%
$35k–$50k	16.2%
$50k–$75k	16.1%
$75k–$100k	11.1%
$100k–$150k	6.0%
$150k–$200k	1.6%
$200k+	2.5%
Median income	$37,220

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 13.5%

$50k–$100k 32.8%

$100k–$150k 23.8%

$150k–$200k 16.8%

$200k–$300k 6.8%

$300k–$500k 4.8%

$500k–$1M 1.0%

$1M+ 0.4%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$106,200
Median rent / month	$874
Owner occupied	47.2%
Renter occupied	52.8%
Vacant	15.9%
Single-family detached	78.1%
Large apartment buildings	3.1%
Mobile homes	0.8%
Median rooms	5.6
Avg household size (owned)	2.49

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.4%
2010–2019	2.7%
2000–2009	1.7%
1990–1999	8.9%
1980–1989	10.9%
1970–1979	15.1%
1960–1969	15.4%
1950–1959	16.3%
1940–1949	10.3%
1939 or earlier	18.3%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	2.0%
1 bedroom	13.1%
2 bedrooms	26.4%
3 bedrooms	46.5%
4 bedrooms	9.7%
5+ bedrooms	2.3%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	13.0%
1 vehicle	44.8%
2 vehicles	27.6%
3 or more	14.7%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	45.5%
Electricity	50.7%
Propane / LP gas	2.4%
Wood	0.6%
No fuel used	0.8%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	1,254	24.1%
Cohabiting couple	373	7.2%
Male householder, no spouse	1,241	23.8%
Female householder, no spouse	2,345	45.0%
Households with children under 18	1,223	23.5%
Households with seniors (65+)	1,932	37.1%
Average household size	2.38

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	49.6%	32.6%
Married	29.1%	25.6%
Separated	1.0%	4.2%
Widowed	3.4%	17.1%
Divorced	16.9%	20.4%

Education

Less than 9th grade 3.9%

Some HS, no diploma 15.3%

HS graduate 35.5%

Some college, no degree 25.1%

Associate's degree 9.6%

Bachelor's degree 6.6%

Graduate / professional 4.1%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	80.8%
Bachelor's or higher	10.7%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	259	10.6%
Kindergarten	121	4.9%
Elementary school	1,069	43.7%
High school	494	20.2%
College / grad school	502	20.5%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 18.1%

Retail trade 17.0%

Manufacturing 13.2%

Arts, food & hospitality 12.3%

Professional & management 11.8%

Transportation & utilities 7.6%

Construction 6.4%

Finance & real estate 4.3%

Other services 3.5%

Wholesale trade 3.4%

Public administration 1.5%

Information 0.8%

Agriculture & mining 0.1%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	21.2%
Service	22.6%
Sales & office	17.5%
Natural resources & construction	12.1%
Production & transportation	26.6%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	89.2%
Government	7.4%
Self-employed	3.4%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	78.8%
Carpool	9.5%
Public transit	5.1%
Walk	0.6%
Work from home	4.3%
Other means	1.6%
Avg commute (minutes)	25.7

Poverty

All people 25.3%

Under 18 years 38.5%

18 and over 21.7%

Married-couple families 9.0%

Female-led households 37.4%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	38.5%
Retirement income	19.3%
Supplemental Security	17.8%
Cash public assistance	2.0%
Food stamps / SNAP	28.5%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	45.3%
High blood pressure	47.0%
High cholesterol	32.8%
Diabetes	17.9%
Heart disease	8.7%
Stroke	5.3%
Asthma	11.3%
Arthritis	33.8%
Kidney disease	4.3%
Pulmonary disease	10.8%
Cancer	6.2%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	22.7%
Binge drinking	11.8%
No physical activity	35.0%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	42.0%
Depression	23.9%
Fair or poor health	27.9%
Poor mental health	17.6%
Poor physical health	14.9%
No health insurance	21.6%
Visited doctor (checkup)	79.8%
Visited dentist	50.8%
Cholesterol screening	90.2%
Teeth loss	24.2%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	450	4.5%

Disability	%
Any disability	23.7%
Under 18	4.3%
18–64 years	22.3%
65 and over	50.5%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	45.6%
Public insurance	47.1%
No insurance	18.0%
Uninsured under 19	10.6%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	11,931	94.5%
Spanish	823	6.9%
Other Indo-European	786	6.6%
Asian & Pacific Islander	13	0.1%
Other languages	24	0.2%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	11,795	93.4%
Born in same state	11,737	92.9%
Born in different state	10,034	79.4%
Foreign born	58	0.5%
Naturalized citizen	835	6.6%
Not a US citizen	138	16.5%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Arab	1,509	11.9%
Italian	320	2.5%
French	236	1.9%

Ancestry	Count	%
English	37	0.3%
Polish	7	0.1%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	41.3%
Internet access	86.3%

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

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 35217

What city is ZIP code 35217 in?

ZIP code 35217 is primarily assigned to Birmingham, Alabama.

What county is ZIP code 35217 in?

ZIP code 35217 falls within Jefferson County, Alabama.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35217?

25% of residents in ZIP code 35217 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

How educated is the population of ZIP code 35217?

11% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average of ~33%, consistent with a trades-oriented local economy.

What are the health statistics for ZIP code 35217?

Health data for ZIP code 35217 shows elevated rates of obesity (45%) and diabetes (18%) and smoking (23%) compared to national benchmarks.

Does ZIP code 35217 have a large retiree population?

39% of households in ZIP code 35217 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

What timezone is ZIP code 35217 in?

ZIP code 35217 observes the CST timezone.