35963 ZIP Code — Dawson, AL

De Kalb County, Alabama

ZIP code 35963 is located in Dawson, Alabama, within De Kalb County. It covers approximately 28.89 square miles and serves a population of 1,608 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Central (CT) timezone, served by area code 256.

About ZIP code 35963

The housing stock consists of a higher-than-average concentration of mobile homes. Much of the housing stock is relatively new, reflecting recent development activity. Median home value is $129,500. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 73%.

Median household income is $66,288. Poverty affects 19% of residents, above the national average. 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 22 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 8% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of smoking (25%) compared to national benchmarks.

Notable community characteristics include disability rates above the national average at 30%.

Overall, ZIP code 35963 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, economic challenges above the national average, and a significant Social Security-dependent population.

1,608

population

28.89

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Central (CT)

timezone

35963 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 35963

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 35963. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Dawson	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

35961 Collinsville (5.2 mi) 35974 Geraldine (5.4 mi) 35962 Crossville (7.7 mi) 35971 Fyffe (7.9 mi) 35986 Rainsville (12.2 mi) 35968 Fort Payne (12.2 mi) 35967 Fort Payne (13.2 mi) 35951 Albertville (13.3 mi) 35771 Section (13.6 mi) 35755 Langston (15 mi) 35988 Sylvania (16.1 mi) 35983 Leesburg (16.2 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	1,608
Population density	56 / sq mi
State FIPS	01
County FIPS	049

Geography
Land area	28.89 sq mi
Water area	0.02 sq mi
Latitude	34.3579
Longitude	-85.9280
Timezone	Central (CT)
Area code	256

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	69.1%	57.3%	48.3%
$50k – $100k	12.0%	29.4%	29.3%
$100k – $200k	18.9%	11.1%	18.0%
Over $200k	0.0%	2.2%	4.4%

Demographics & statistics

1,608

Population

People per sq mi

41.8

Median age

$66,288

Median household income

$26,473

Per capita income

$129,500

Median home value

$563

Median monthly rent

72.7%

Home ownership

19.3%

Poverty rate

0.0%

Unemployment

491

Housing units

8.0%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

Under 5

10–14

15–19

20–24

102

25–34

143

101

35–44

142

45–54

120

55–59

60–64

65–74

75–84

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	268	16.7%
18 and over	1,340	83.3%
65 and over	289	18.0%
Median age	41.8 years

Race & ethnicity

White 86.6%

Two or more races 11.2%

Hispanic or Latino 1.9%

American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%

Group	Count	%
White	1,420	86.6%
Two or more races	183	11.2%
Hispanic or Latino	31	1.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native	5	0.3%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	69.1%	57.3%	48.3%
$50k – $100k	12.0%	29.4%	29.3%
$100k – $200k	18.9%	11.1%	18.0%
Over $200k	0.0%	2.2%	4.4%

Under $10k 3.2%

$10k–$15k 12.1%

$15k–$25k 12.6%

$25k–$35k 6.5%

$35k–$50k 7.4%

$50k–$75k 18.6%

$75k–$100k 20.8%

$100k–$150k 7.5%

$150k–$200k 11.4%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	3.2%
$10k–$15k	12.1%
$15k–$25k	12.6%
$25k–$35k	6.5%
$35k–$50k	7.4%
$50k–$75k	18.6%
$75k–$100k	20.8%
$100k–$150k	7.5%
$150k–$200k	11.4%
Median income	$66,288

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 6.5%

$50k–$100k 35.7%

$100k–$150k 18.3%

$150k–$200k 1.9%

$200k–$300k 31.6%

$300k–$500k 6.0%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$129,500
Median rent / month	$563
Owner occupied	72.7%
Renter occupied	27.3%
Vacant	11.7%
Single-family detached	70.0%
Large apartment buildings	0.0%
Mobile homes	29.2%
Median rooms	5.5
Avg household size (owned)	2.87

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	7.6%
2010–2019	18.2%
2000–2009	15.0%
1990–1999	4.8%
1980–1989	13.3%
1970–1979	15.6%
1960–1969	7.0%
1950–1959	1.2%
1940–1949	2.0%
1939 or earlier	15.3%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	0.0%
1 bedroom	0.0%
2 bedrooms	27.0%
3 bedrooms	57.2%
4 bedrooms	15.8%
5+ bedrooms	0.0%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	7.5%
1 vehicle	16.1%
2 vehicles	32.6%
3 or more	43.8%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	10.2%
Electricity	70.8%
Propane / LP gas	16.1%
Wood	3.0%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	307	53.8%
Cohabiting couple	65	11.4%
Male householder, no spouse	95	16.6%
Female householder, no spouse	104	18.2%
Households with children under 18	150	26.3%
Households with seniors (65+)	200	35.0%
Average household size	2.82

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	29.1%	32.4%
Married	58.1%	43.4%
Separated	2.7%	3.8%
Widowed	4.7%	13.2%
Divorced	5.4%	7.2%

Education

Less than 9th grade 3.1%

Some HS, no diploma 12.7%

HS graduate 35.0%

Some college, no degree 25.3%

Associate's degree 15.9%

Bachelor's degree 5.6%

Graduate / professional 2.4%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	84.2%
Bachelor's or higher	8.0%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	4	1.5%
Kindergarten	0	0.0%
Elementary school	59	21.5%
High school	89	32.4%
College / grad school	123	44.7%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 16.2%

Arts, food & hospitality 15.5%

Transportation & utilities 15.0%

Finance & real estate 10.9%

Other services 10.0%

Manufacturing 7.0%

Retail trade 7.0%

Wholesale trade 6.0%

Agriculture & mining 4.1%

Construction 2.9%

Information 2.9%

Professional & management 2.8%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	25.8%
Service	18.4%
Sales & office	22.7%
Natural resources & construction	15.0%
Production & transportation	18.2%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	84.5%
Government	11.8%
Self-employed	3.7%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	77.7%
Carpool	22.3%
Public transit	0.0%
Walk	0.0%
Work from home	0.0%
Other means	0.0%
Avg commute (minutes)	22.1

Poverty

All people 19.3%

Under 18 years 53.0%

18 and over 12.5%

Married-couple families 1.6%

Female-led households 38.5%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	35.0%
Retirement income	17.0%
Supplemental Security	6.0%
Cash public assistance	1.9%
Food stamps / SNAP	16.1%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	43.1%
High blood pressure	42.6%
High cholesterol	37.3%
Diabetes	14.1%
Heart disease	8.9%
Stroke	4.4%
Asthma	10.7%
Arthritis	35.5%
Kidney disease	3.7%
Pulmonary disease	12.3%
Cancer	6.6%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	25.4%
Binge drinking	14.5%
No physical activity	32.6%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	37.1%
Depression	28.6%
Fair or poor health	24.8%
Poor mental health	18.5%
Poor physical health	15.6%
No health insurance	19.4%
Visited doctor (checkup)	71.6%
Visited dentist	51.8%
Cholesterol screening	88.1%
Teeth loss	23.2%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	112	8.4%

Disability	%
Any disability	29.5%
Under 18	5.6%
18–64 years	29.9%
65 and over	50.5%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	62.7%
Public insurance	40.5%
No insurance	8.7%
Uninsured under 19	0.0%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	1,488	92.5%
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)	1,608	100.0%
Born in same state	1,608	100.0%
Born in different state	1,197	74.4%
Foreign born	0	0.0%
Naturalized citizen	0	0.0%
Not a US citizen	0	0.0%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Italian	233	14.5%
Arab	184	11.4%

Ancestry	Count	%
English	26	1.6%
French	25	1.6%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	35.5%
Internet access	81.4%

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

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 35963

What city is ZIP code 35963 in?

ZIP code 35963 is primarily assigned to Dawson, Alabama.

What county is ZIP code 35963 in?

ZIP code 35963 falls within De Kalb County, Alabama.

How educated is the population of ZIP code 35963?

8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average of ~33%, consistent with a trades-oriented local economy.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35963?

19% of residents in ZIP code 35963 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

What is the typical home value in ZIP code 35963?

The median home value in ZIP code 35963 is $129,500.

What is the population of ZIP code 35963?

ZIP code 35963 has an estimated population of 1,608 residents, with a density of 56 people per square mile.

What timezone is ZIP code 35963 in?

ZIP code 35963 observes the CST timezone.