35979 ZIP Code — Higdon, AL

Jackson County, Alabama

ZIP code 35979 is located in Higdon, Alabama, within Jackson County. It covers approximately 11.61 square miles and serves a population of 744 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Central (CT) timezone, served by area code 256/938.

About ZIP code 35979

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 $134,400.

Median household income is $30,547. Poverty affects 25% of residents, above the national average. 51% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is production, transportation, and material moving, with manufacturing as the leading industry. The average commute of 27 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 4% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of smoking (23%) compared to national benchmarks.

Notable community characteristics include disability rates above the national average at 26%.

Overall, ZIP code 35979 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, economic challenges above the national average, high homeownership, and a significant Social Security-dependent population.

744

population

11.61

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Central (CT)

timezone

35979 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 35979

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 35979. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Higdon	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

35966 Flat Rock (5.1 mi) 35958 Bryant (6.8 mi) 35981 Ider (7.4 mi) 30752 Trenton (7.7 mi) 30738 Rising Fawn (7.9 mi) 35740 Bridgeport (12.6 mi) 30757 Wildwood (12.7 mi) 35989 Valley Head (13.5 mi) 35978 Henagar (13.7 mi) 30750 Lookout Mountain (13.8 mi) 35765 Pisgah (15.3 mi) 30707 Chickamauga (15.3 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	744
Population density	64 / sq mi
State FIPS	01
County FIPS	071

Geography
Land area	11.61 sq mi
Water area	0.00 sq mi
Latitude	34.8169
Longitude	-85.6114
Timezone	Central (CT)
Area code	256/938

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	57.1%	55.5%	48.3%
$50k – $100k	36.9%	28.9%	29.3%
$100k – $200k	6.0%	13.7%	18.0%
Over $200k	0.0%	1.9%	4.4%

Demographics & statistics

744

Population

People per sq mi

43.6

Median age

$30,547

Median household income

$22,945

Per capita income

$134,400

Median home value

Median monthly rent

100.0%

Home ownership

24.7%

Poverty rate

14.6%

Unemployment

420

Housing units

4.3%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

Under 5

5–9

10–14

15–19

20–24

25–34

35–44

45–54

55–59

60–64

65–74

75–84

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	175	23.5%
18 and over	569	76.5%
65 and over	209	28.1%
Median age	43.6 years

Race & ethnicity

White 92.7%

American Indian / Alaska Native 3.8%

Two or more races 3.5%

Group	Count	%
White	690	92.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native	28	3.8%
Two or more races	26	3.5%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	57.1%	55.5%	48.3%
$50k – $100k	36.9%	28.9%	29.3%
$100k – $200k	6.0%	13.7%	18.0%
Over $200k	0.0%	1.9%	4.4%

$10k–$15k 12.9%

$15k–$25k 8.8%

$25k–$35k 32.3%

$35k–$50k 6.3%

$50k–$75k 6.0%

$75k–$100k 18.2%

$100k–$150k 11.3%

$150k–$200k 4.4%

Range	% of households
$10k–$15k	12.9%
$15k–$25k	8.8%
$25k–$35k	32.3%
$35k–$50k	6.3%
$50k–$75k	6.0%
$75k–$100k	18.2%
$100k–$150k	11.3%
$150k–$200k	4.4%
Median income	$30,547

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 12.2%

$50k–$100k 16.9%

$100k–$150k 31.0%

$150k–$200k 17.6%

$200k–$300k 6.3%

$300k–$500k 15.4%

$1M+ 0.6%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$134,400
Median rent / month	$0
Owner occupied	100.0%
Renter occupied	0.0%
Vacant	24.0%
Single-family detached	82.1%
Large apartment buildings	0.0%
Mobile homes	17.9%
Median rooms	6.2
Avg household size (owned)	2.33

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.0%
2010–2019	0.0%
2000–2009	4.0%
1990–1999	44.3%
1980–1989	9.5%
1970–1979	10.2%
1960–1969	10.5%
1950–1959	16.9%
1940–1949	3.3%
1939 or earlier	1.2%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	0.0%
1 bedroom	1.2%
2 bedrooms	5.7%
3 bedrooms	73.3%
4 bedrooms	12.4%
5+ bedrooms	7.4%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	0.0%
1 vehicle	22.3%
2 vehicles	27.9%
3 or more	49.8%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Electricity	67.4%
Propane / LP gas	32.6%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	182	57.1%
Cohabiting couple	0	0.0%
Male householder, no spouse	41	12.9%
Female householder, no spouse	96	30.1%
Households with children under 18	76	23.8%
Households with seniors (65+)	162	50.8%
Average household size	2.33

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	43.3%	3.9%
Married	53.9%	61.9%
Separated	0.0%	10.9%
Widowed	0.6%	21.4%
Divorced	2.3%	1.9%

Education

Less than 9th grade 13.3%

Some HS, no diploma 16.4%

HS graduate 39.3%

Some college, no degree 9.2%

Associate's degree 17.4%

Bachelor's degree 3.1%

Graduate / professional 1.2%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	70.3%
Bachelor's or higher	4.3%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	0	0.0%
Kindergarten	0	0.0%
Elementary school	102	51.0%
High school	37	18.5%
College / grad school	61	30.5%

Employment

Industry of employment

Manufacturing 27.9%

Other services 19.9%

Transportation & utilities 14.6%

Retail trade 10.8%

Construction 7.0%

Wholesale trade 5.9%

Public administration 5.6%

Finance & real estate 4.9%

Professional & management 3.5%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	10.8%
Service	23.3%
Sales & office	11.5%
Natural resources & construction	12.5%
Production & transportation	41.8%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	63.8%
Government	5.6%
Self-employed	30.7%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	67.6%
Carpool	2.8%
Public transit	0.0%
Walk	9.8%
Work from home	15.7%
Other means	4.2%
Avg commute (minutes)	26.9

Poverty

All people 24.7%

Under 18 years 25.7%

18 and over 24.4%

Married-couple families 4.9%

Female-led households 100.0%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	50.8%
Retirement income	17.2%
Supplemental Security	2.2%
Cash public assistance	0.0%
Food stamps / SNAP	3.8%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	40.1%
High blood pressure	39.3%
High cholesterol	36.7%
Diabetes	11.6%
Heart disease	7.3%
Stroke	3.4%
Asthma	10.1%
Arthritis	31.7%
Kidney disease	3.0%
Pulmonary disease	10.0%
Cancer	6.3%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	23.2%
Binge drinking	15.9%
No physical activity	28.6%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	37.7%
Depression	28.7%
Fair or poor health	20.1%
Poor mental health	18.0%
Poor physical health	13.0%
No health insurance	17.2%
Visited doctor (checkup)	71.7%
Visited dentist	57.6%
Cholesterol screening	88.2%
Teeth loss	17.3%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	48	8.4%

Disability	%
Any disability	26.2%
Under 18	0.0%
18–64 years	21.1%
65 and over	56.9%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	60.2%
Public insurance	54.7%
No insurance	11.3%
Uninsured under 19	0.0%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	708	95.2%
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)	744	100.0%
Born in same state	744	100.0%
Born in different state	260	34.9%
Foreign born	0	0.0%
Naturalized citizen	0	0.0%
Not a US citizen	0	0.0%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Italian	74	9.9%
Arab	60	8.1%

Ancestry	Count	%
French	19	2.6%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	42.9%
Internet access	94.0%

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

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 35979

What city is ZIP code 35979 in?

ZIP code 35979 is primarily assigned to Higdon, Alabama.

What county is ZIP code 35979 in?

ZIP code 35979 falls within De Kalb County, Alabama.

How educated is the population of ZIP code 35979?

4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average of ~33%, consistent with a trades-oriented local economy.

Does ZIP code 35979 have an older population?

28% of residents in ZIP code 35979 are 65 or older, above the national average of ~17%.

Does ZIP code 35979 have a large retiree population?

51% of households in ZIP code 35979 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35979?

25% of residents in ZIP code 35979 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

What timezone is ZIP code 35979 in?

ZIP code 35979 observes the CST timezone.