36862 ZIP Code — Lafayette, AL

Chambers County, Alabama

ZIP code 36862 is located in Lafayette, Alabama, within Chambers County. It covers approximately 226.46 square miles and serves a population of 5,986 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Central (CT) timezone, served by area code 334.

About ZIP code 36862

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 $139,400. Owner-occupancy is high at 77%, well above the national average.

Median household income is $44,014. SNAP benefit usage at 19% of households reflects economic stress in the area. 54% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with manufacturing as the leading industry. The average commute of 32 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 13% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of diabetes (17%), smoking (23%) compared to national benchmarks.

Notable community characteristics include disability rates above the national average at 25%.

Overall, ZIP code 36862 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, high homeownership, a significant Social Security-dependent population, and elevated reliance on food assistance.

5,986

population

226.46

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Central (CT)

timezone

36862 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 36862

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 36862. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Lafayette	Acceptable
Lafayette	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

36855 Five Points (9.7 mi) 36863 Lanett (10.8 mi) 36879 Waverly (14.2 mi) 36879 Waverly (14.2 mi) 36852 Cusseta (14.9 mi) 36850 Camp Hill (15.5 mi) 36801 Opelika (16.3 mi) 36276 Wadley (16.8 mi) 36256 Daviston (17.3 mi) 36854 Valley (17.7 mi) 36274 Roanoke (18 mi) 36853 Dadeville (19.1 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	5,986
Population density	26 / sq mi
State FIPS	01
County FIPS	017

Geography
Land area	226.46 sq mi
Water area	0.93 sq mi
Latitude	32.9170
Longitude	-85.4395
Timezone	Central (CT)
Area code	334

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	62.6%	53.5%	48.3%
$50k – $100k	23.2%	30.8%	29.3%
$100k – $200k	14.2%	13.8%	18.0%
Over $200k	0.0%	2.0%	4.4%

Demographics & statistics

5,986

Population

People per sq mi

52.0

Median age

$44,014

Median household income

$25,064

Per capita income

$139,400

Median home value

$599

Median monthly rent

76.5%

Home ownership

13.3%

Poverty rate

7.4%

Unemployment

2,441

Housing units

12.9%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

138

Under 5

135

5–9

218

10–14

212

153

15–19

148

20–24

293

25–34

286

326

35–44

317

410

45–54

398

364

55–59

355

170

60–64

166

506

65–74

493

235

75–84

229

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	1,114	18.6%
18 and over	4,872	81.4%
65 and over	1,553	25.9%
Median age	52.0 years

Race & ethnicity

Black or African American 51.1%

White 46.4%

Hispanic or Latino 1.2%

Two or more races 1.1%

American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%

Other race 0.1%

Group	Count	%
Black or African American	3,095	51.1%
White	2,812	46.4%
Hispanic or Latino	70	1.2%
Two or more races	66	1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native	9	0.1%
Other race	4	0.1%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	62.6%	53.5%	48.3%
$50k – $100k	23.2%	30.8%	29.3%
$100k – $200k	14.2%	13.8%	18.0%
Over $200k	0.0%	2.0%	4.4%

Under $10k 7.6%

$10k–$15k 4.2%

$15k–$25k 16.0%

$25k–$35k 15.0%

$35k–$50k 11.2%

$50k–$75k 17.1%

$75k–$100k 9.2%

$100k–$150k 12.1%

$150k–$200k 6.4%

$200k+ 1.2%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	7.6%
$10k–$15k	4.2%
$15k–$25k	16.0%
$25k–$35k	15.0%
$35k–$50k	11.2%
$50k–$75k	17.1%
$75k–$100k	9.2%
$100k–$150k	12.1%
$150k–$200k	6.4%
$200k+	1.2%
Median income	$44,014

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 14.4%

$50k–$100k 19.8%

$100k–$150k 20.4%

$150k–$200k 15.2%

$200k–$300k 12.1%

$300k–$500k 12.2%

$500k–$1M 3.2%

$1M+ 2.7%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$139,400
Median rent / month	$599
Owner occupied	76.5%
Renter occupied	23.5%
Vacant	22.1%
Single-family detached	72.3%
Large apartment buildings	3.7%
Mobile homes	14.7%
Median rooms	5.8
Avg household size (owned)	2.40

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.0%
2010–2019	3.8%
2000–2009	7.0%
1990–1999	18.0%
1980–1989	15.0%
1970–1979	15.2%
1960–1969	10.7%
1950–1959	8.2%
1940–1949	6.4%
1939 or earlier	15.6%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	7.5%
1 bedroom	1.1%
2 bedrooms	26.7%
3 bedrooms	40.2%
4 bedrooms	15.4%
5+ bedrooms	9.2%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	10.4%
1 vehicle	21.9%
2 vehicles	30.5%
3 or more	37.1%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	13.4%
Electricity	68.2%
Propane / LP gas	15.5%
Fuel oil	0.7%
Wood	1.4%
No fuel used	0.3%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	1,253	53.8%
Cohabiting couple	69	3.0%
Male householder, no spouse	395	17.0%
Female householder, no spouse	612	26.3%
Households with children under 18	666	28.6%
Households with seniors (65+)	1,014	43.5%
Average household size	2.44

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	32.9%	29.6%
Married	52.3%	47.4%
Separated	1.2%	2.6%
Widowed	5.9%	11.1%
Divorced	7.7%	9.2%

Education

Less than 9th grade 9.0%

Some HS, no diploma 12.2%

HS graduate 39.5%

Some college, no degree 18.7%

Associate's degree 7.8%

Bachelor's degree 10.2%

Graduate / professional 2.7%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	78.8%
Bachelor's or higher	12.9%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	82	7.3%
Kindergarten	51	4.5%
Elementary school	526	46.9%
High school	274	24.4%
College / grad school	189	16.8%

Employment

Industry of employment

Manufacturing 22.9%

Education & healthcare 20.9%

Retail trade 11.1%

Professional & management 9.3%

Agriculture & mining 9.0%

Construction 8.0%

Public administration 4.6%

Arts, food & hospitality 4.5%

Transportation & utilities 3.7%

Other services 3.7%

Finance & real estate 2.1%

Information 0.3%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	28.9%
Service	16.5%
Sales & office	14.4%
Natural resources & construction	11.4%
Production & transportation	28.9%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	80.4%
Government	16.6%
Self-employed	3.0%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	88.5%
Carpool	7.9%
Public transit	0.0%
Walk	0.0%
Work from home	3.6%
Other means	0.0%
Avg commute (minutes)	32.4

Poverty

All people 13.3%

Under 18 years 15.1%

18 and over 12.9%

Married-couple families 7.5%

Female-led households 13.4%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	54.0%
Retirement income	22.2%
Supplemental Security	17.1%
Cash public assistance	0.9%
Food stamps / SNAP	18.5%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	43.4%
High blood pressure	50.4%
High cholesterol	37.1%
Diabetes	17.1%
Heart disease	8.6%
Stroke	5.1%
Asthma	11.0%
Arthritis	35.7%
Kidney disease	4.1%
Pulmonary disease	10.2%
Cancer	6.9%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	22.5%
Binge drinking	12.2%
No physical activity	35.8%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	44.1%
Depression	23.5%
Fair or poor health	25.6%
Poor mental health	17.0%
Poor physical health	14.6%
No health insurance	19.8%
Visited doctor (checkup)	78.9%
Visited dentist	55.0%
Cholesterol screening	91.1%
Teeth loss	21.3%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	350	7.2%

Disability	%
Any disability	25.3%
Under 18	4.8%
18–64 years	24.3%
65 and over	43.7%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	52.7%
Public insurance	48.5%
No insurance	10.8%
Uninsured under 19	1.2%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	5,713	95.4%
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)	5,941	99.2%
Born in same state	5,892	98.4%
Born in different state	4,965	82.9%
Foreign born	49	0.8%
Naturalized citizen	45	0.8%
Not a US citizen	45	100.0%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Arab	1,019	17%
Italian	412	6.9%
French	361	6%

Ancestry	Count	%
German	12	0.2%
English	8	0.1%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	38.9%
Internet access	79.3%

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

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 36862

What city is ZIP code 36862 in?

ZIP code 36862 is primarily assigned to Lafayette, Alabama.

What county is ZIP code 36862 in?

ZIP code 36862 falls within Chambers County, Alabama.

Does ZIP code 36862 have a large retiree population?

54% of households in ZIP code 36862 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

Does ZIP code 36862 have an older population?

26% of residents in ZIP code 36862 are 65 or older, above the national average of ~17%.

How educated is the population of ZIP code 36862?

13% 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 typical home value in ZIP code 36862?

The median home value in ZIP code 36862 is $139,400.

What timezone is ZIP code 36862 in?

ZIP code 36862 observes the CST timezone.