35968 ZIP Code — Fort Payne, AL

De Kalb County, Alabama

ZIP code 35968 is located in Fort Payne, Alabama, within De Kalb County. It covers approximately 63.57 square miles and serves a population of 4,870 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Central (CT) timezone, served by area code 256.

About ZIP code 35968

The housing stock consists of a higher-than-average concentration of mobile homes. Most homes were built in the 2000s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $114,400. Owner-occupancy is high at 77%, well above the national average.

Median household income is $54,766. Poverty affects 18% of residents, above the national average. 40% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with retail trade as the leading industry. The average commute of 27 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 16% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of smoking (22%) compared to national benchmarks.

Overall, ZIP code 35968 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, economic challenges above the national average, high homeownership, and a significant Social Security-dependent population.

4,870

population

63.57

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Central (CT)

timezone

35968 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 35968

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 35968. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Fort Payne	Acceptable
Fort Payne	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

35986 Rainsville (2 mi) 35988 Sylvania (4.2 mi) 35967 Fort Payne (8.4 mi) 35971 Fyffe (9.1 mi) 35744 Dutton (9.9 mi) 35978 Henagar (10.7 mi) 35963 Dawson (12.2 mi) 35771 Section (12.2 mi) 35989 Valley Head (12.6 mi) 35765 Pisgah (12.6 mi) 35984 Mentone (13.3 mi) 35961 Collinsville (15.1 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	4,870
Population density	77 / sq mi
State FIPS	01
County FIPS	049

Geography
Land area	63.57 sq mi
Water area	0.17 sq mi
Latitude	34.4996
Longitude	-85.7995
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	46.3%	57.3%	48.3%
$50k – $100k	36.7%	29.4%	29.3%
$100k – $200k	16.1%	11.1%	18.0%
Over $200k	0.8%	2.2%	4.4%

Demographics & statistics

4,870

Population

People per sq mi

39.6

Median age

$54,766

Median household income

$23,024

Per capita income

$114,400

Median home value

$693

Median monthly rent

76.7%

Home ownership

18.4%

Poverty rate

2.9%

Unemployment

1,568

Housing units

15.5%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

Under 5

127

5–9

139

234

10–14

254

100

15–19

108

211

20–24

229

254

25–34

276

314

35–44

341

334

45–54

363

131

55–59

143

137

60–64

149

232

65–74

252

150

75–84

164

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	1,097	22.5%
18 and over	3,773	77.5%
65 and over	847	17.4%
Median age	39.6 years

Race & ethnicity

White 64.3%

Hispanic or Latino 12.6%

Other race 10.3%

Black or African American 6.8%

American Indian / Alaska Native 2.9%

Two or more races 2.7%

Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%

Asian 0.1%

Group	Count	%
White	3,579	64.3%
Hispanic or Latino	700	12.6%
Other race	576	10.3%
Black or African American	378	6.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native	162	2.9%
Two or more races	152	2.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	20	0.4%
Asian	3	0.1%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	46.3%	57.3%	48.3%
$50k – $100k	36.7%	29.4%	29.3%
$100k – $200k	16.1%	11.1%	18.0%
Over $200k	0.8%	2.2%	4.4%

Under $10k 5.7%

$10k–$15k 4.5%

$15k–$25k 15.8%

$25k–$35k 12.3%

$35k–$50k 10.8%

$50k–$75k 16.4%

$75k–$100k 16.1%

$100k–$150k 14.3%

$150k–$200k 1.3%

$200k+ 2.8%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	5.7%
$10k–$15k	4.5%
$15k–$25k	15.8%
$25k–$35k	12.3%
$35k–$50k	10.8%
$50k–$75k	16.4%
$75k–$100k	16.1%
$100k–$150k	14.3%
$150k–$200k	1.3%
$200k+	2.8%
Median income	$54,766

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 15.6%

$50k–$100k 24.0%

$100k–$150k 26.7%

$150k–$200k 6.4%

$200k–$300k 17.4%

$300k–$500k 9.1%

$500k–$1M 0.9%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$114,400
Median rent / month	$693
Owner occupied	76.7%
Renter occupied	23.3%
Vacant	15.4%
Single-family detached	67.7%
Large apartment buildings	0.5%
Mobile homes	26.9%
Median rooms	6.0
Avg household size (owned)	2.83

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.9%
2010–2019	6.7%
2000–2009	17.7%
1990–1999	9.5%
1980–1989	17.2%
1970–1979	15.7%
1960–1969	12.1%
1950–1959	6.5%
1940–1949	7.3%
1939 or earlier	6.4%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	0.5%
1 bedroom	1.7%
2 bedrooms	30.4%
3 bedrooms	52.0%
4 bedrooms	11.9%
5+ bedrooms	3.5%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	4.8%
1 vehicle	19.4%
2 vehicles	49.9%
3 or more	26.0%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	11.1%
Electricity	71.7%
Propane / LP gas	14.0%
Fuel oil	0.2%
Wood	2.2%
No fuel used	0.1%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	985	59.6%
Cohabiting couple	45	2.7%
Male householder, no spouse	216	13.1%
Female householder, no spouse	407	24.6%
Households with children under 18	621	37.6%
Households with seniors (65+)	550	33.3%
Average household size	2.77

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	28.3%	26.7%
Married	59.7%	54.4%
Separated	3.8%	3.8%
Widowed	1.7%	7.4%
Divorced	6.5%	7.7%

Education

Less than 9th grade 16.7%

Some HS, no diploma 5.2%

HS graduate 37.1%

Some college, no degree 14.7%

Associate's degree 10.8%

Bachelor's degree 8.5%

Graduate / professional 6.9%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	78.0%
Bachelor's or higher	15.5%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	13	1.1%
Kindergarten	33	2.8%
Elementary school	673	58.1%
High school	235	20.3%
College / grad school	205	17.7%

Employment

Industry of employment

Retail trade 16.7%

Education & healthcare 16.0%

Manufacturing 14.2%

Arts, food & hospitality 10.4%

Construction 10.1%

Other services 7.7%

Transportation & utilities 5.9%

Professional & management 5.8%

Agriculture & mining 4.3%

Public administration 3.5%

Finance & real estate 3.4%

Wholesale trade 1.1%

Information 1.0%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	27.9%
Service	21.2%
Sales & office	19.3%
Natural resources & construction	17.0%
Production & transportation	14.5%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	74.7%
Government	13.8%
Self-employed	11.6%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	86.9%
Carpool	8.9%
Public transit	0.1%
Walk	0.0%
Work from home	4.2%
Other means	0.0%
Avg commute (minutes)	26.7

Poverty

All people 18.4%

Under 18 years 31.0%

18 and over 14.6%

Married-couple families 6.0%

Female-led households 27.6%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	40.0%
Retirement income	18.0%
Supplemental Security	8.8%
Cash public assistance	2.1%
Food stamps / SNAP	15.1%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	40.5%
High blood pressure	40.9%
High cholesterol	37.8%
Diabetes	12.6%
Heart disease	8.2%
Stroke	3.9%
Asthma	9.9%
Arthritis	34.1%
Kidney disease	3.4%
Pulmonary disease	10.6%
Cancer	7.0%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	22.1%
Binge drinking	15.3%
No physical activity	29.9%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	35.9%
Depression	27.2%
Fair or poor health	21.3%
Poor mental health	17.2%
Poor physical health	13.7%
No health insurance	18.5%
Visited doctor (checkup)	71.5%
Visited dentist	56.2%
Cholesterol screening	88.7%
Teeth loss	19.5%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	202	5.4%

Disability	%
Any disability	11.2%
Under 18	1.7%
18–64 years	9.3%
65 and over	29.7%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	59.7%
Public insurance	40.2%
No insurance	14.2%
Uninsured under 19	6.1%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	4,690	96.3%
Spanish	333	7.1%
Other Indo-European	333	7.1%
Asian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Other languages	0	0.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	4,441	91.2%
Born in same state	4,427	90.9%
Born in different state	3,058	62.8%
Foreign born	14	0.3%
Naturalized citizen	429	8.8%
Not a US citizen	21	4.9%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Arab	562	11.5%
French	509	10.5%
Italian	328	6.7%

Ancestry	Count	%
English	12	0.2%
Irish	1	0%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	33.9%
Internet access	87.0%

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

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 35968

What city is ZIP code 35968 in?

ZIP code 35968 is primarily assigned to Fort Payne, Alabama.

What county is ZIP code 35968 in?

ZIP code 35968 falls within De Kalb County, Alabama.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35968?

18% of residents in ZIP code 35968 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

Does ZIP code 35968 have a large retiree population?

40% of households in ZIP code 35968 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

What is the typical home value in ZIP code 35968?

The median home value in ZIP code 35968 is $114,400.

What is the population of ZIP code 35968?

ZIP code 35968 has an estimated population of 4,870 residents, with a density of 77 people per square mile.

What timezone is ZIP code 35968 in?

ZIP code 35968 observes the CST timezone.