Zip code 35242: Birmingham, Alabama

Q: What city is zip code 35242?

35242 is assigned to Birmingham, Alabama. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 35242 in?

35242 is mostly in Shelby County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 35242?

About 57,374 people live in 35242, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 35242?

The median household income in 35242 is $117,047.

Q: What zip codes are near 35242?

The closest zip codes to 35242 are 35243, 35223, 35216, 35213, 35229.

Residential delivery areaShelby CountyCentral Time

Population

57,374

Median household income

$117K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$478K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,472/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

43.6

U.S. 38.9

Land area

52 sq mi

1,096 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 35242

35242 is a suburban zip code in Birmingham, Alabama (Shelby County), covering 52 sq mi of land. About 57,374 people live here, or 1,096 per square mile. The median resident is 43.6 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $117,047 a year, 45% above the national median of $80,734. 6.1% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $477,700, or 4.1 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 73% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,472 a month.

66% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 26.2 minutes each way, and 19% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management, sales and healthcare.

How 35242 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Bachelor's degree or higher65.8%
93rd
StrengthU.S. 35.7% · AL 28.4%9th of 612 in AL
Per capita income$68,914
91st
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · AL $36,0878th of 614 in AL
Population57,374
87th
U.S. 334,922,499 · AL 5,086,7681st of 616 in AL
Broadband access95.9%
84th
StrengthU.S. 91% · AL 87.5%44th of 605 in AL
Median household income$117,047
83rd
StrengthU.S. $80,734 · AL $63,99920th of 582 in AL
Income inequality (Gini)0.479
81st
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · AL 0.479153rd of 603 in AL
Median age43.6
80th
U.S. 38.9 · AL 39.3214th of 616 in AL
Median earnings per worker$62,631
80th
StrengthU.S. $49,666 · AL $43,39630th of 605 in AL
Tech workers5%
79th
U.S. 3.8% · AL 2.7%53rd of 612 in AL
Work from home18.6%
74th
U.S. 15.1% · AL 8.8%29th of 612 in AL
Median home value$477,700
73rd
U.S. $332,700 · AL $209,9008th of 565 in AL
Residents 65 and older19.5%
71st
U.S. 17.2% · AL 17.8%290th of 616 in AL
Homeownership rate73.2%
62nd
U.S. 65.2% · AL 70.2%404th of 605 in AL
Self-employed workers10.2%
61st
U.S. 10% · AL 9.1%227th of 612 in AL
Healthcare workers10.1%
60th
U.S. 9.7% · AL 9.9%252nd of 612 in AL
Median gross rent$1,472
55th
U.S. $1,413 · AL $1,00722nd of 503 in AL
Rent-burdened renters51.9%
55th
U.S. 51.1% · AL 48.8%209th of 568 in AL
Average commute26.2 min
51st
U.S. 26.4 min · AL 25.5 min354th of 587 in AL
Population density1,096/sq mi
45th
U.S. 95/sq mi · AL 100/sq mi70th of 616 in AL
Veterans5.4%
44th
U.S. 6.2% · AL 7.7%434th of 615 in AL
Residents under 1821.2%
42nd
U.S. 22% · AL 22.2%341st of 616 in AL
Housing vacancy5.7%
41st
U.S. 10.1% · AL 14.5%550th of 606 in AL
Diversity index36.8
32nd
U.S. 61.4 · AL 52.8316th of 616 in AL
Foreign-born residents5.5%
32nd
U.S. 14.1% · AL 4%74th of 616 in AL
Government workers10.4%
22nd
U.S. 14.5% · AL 16.6%498th of 612 in AL
Poverty rate6.1%
19th
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · AL 15.6%541st of 607 in AL
Uninsured rate3.4%
16th
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · AL 9.2%555th of 614 in AL
Unemployment rate1.3%
2nd
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · AL 4.7%517th of 612 in AL

Measure	35242	Shelby	AL	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in AL
Bachelor's degree or higherStrength	65.8%	46.8%	28.4%	35.7%	93rd	9th of 612
Per capita incomeStrength	$68,914	$49,440	$36,087	$44,673	91st	8th of 614
Population	57,374	230,211	5,086,768	334,922,499	87th	1st of 616
Broadband accessStrength	95.9%	94.7%	87.5%	91%	84th	44th of 605
Median household incomeStrength	$117,047	$97,961	$63,999	$80,734	83rd	20th of 582
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.479	0.440	0.479	0.483	81st	153rd of 603
Median age	43.6	40.3	39.3	38.9	80th	214th of 616
Median earnings per workerStrength	$62,631	$55,776	$43,396	$49,666	80th	30th of 605
Tech workers	5%	4.3%	2.7%	3.8%	79th	53rd of 612
Work from home	18.6%	16.9%	8.8%	15.1%	74th	29th of 612
Median home value	$477,700	$326,100	$209,900	$332,700	73rd	8th of 565
Residents 65 and older	19.5%	16.8%	17.8%	17.2%	71st	290th of 616
Homeownership rate	73.2%	81.4%	70.2%	65.2%	62nd	404th of 605
Self-employed workers	10.2%	9.8%	9.1%	10%	61st	227th of 612
Healthcare workers	10.1%	9%	9.9%	9.7%	60th	252nd of 612
Median gross rent	$1,472	$1,401	$1,007	$1,413	55th	22nd of 503
Rent-burdened renters	51.9%	47.1%	48.8%	51.1%	55th	209th of 568
Average commute	26.2 min	29.5 min	25.5 min	26.4 min	51st	354th of 587
Population density	1,096/sq mi	293/sq mi	100/sq mi	95/sq mi	45th	70th of 616
Veterans	5.4%	6.3%	7.7%	6.2%	44th	434th of 615
Residents under 18	21.2%	22.8%	22.2%	22%	42nd	341st of 616
Housing vacancy	5.7%	5.6%	14.5%	10.1%	41st	550th of 606
Diversity index	36.8	43.9	52.8	61.4	32nd	316th of 616
Foreign-born residents	5.5%	5.5%	4%	14.1%	32nd	74th of 616
Government workers	10.4%	13.5%	16.6%	14.5%	22nd	498th of 612
Poverty rateStrength	6.1%	7.2%	15.6%	12.5%	19th	541st of 607
Uninsured rateStrength	3.4%	6.4%	9.2%	8.4%	16th	555th of 614
Unemployment rateStrength	1.3%	2.9%	4.7%	5.2%	2nd	517th of 612

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

17%

5–17

18–24

10%

25–34

14%

35–44

14%

45–54

13%

55–64

12%

65–74

75+

Median age

43.6

Under 18

21.2%

65 and over

19.5%

Race and ethnicity

White79%
Black10%
Hispanic4%
Asian4%
Native American0.2%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.4%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

36.8

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

5.5%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

55.9%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

91%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

0.6%

Households

Households: 23,978
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 68%
Married couples: 58.7%
Living alone: 26.7%
Veterans (of adults): 5.4%
Male / female: 48% / 52%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

13%

$50–75k

15%

$75–100k

10%

$100–150k

16%

$150–200k

14%

$200k+

26%

Median household income

35242

$117,047

Shelby Co.

$97,961

Alabama

$63,999

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$68,914

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

6.1%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

39.8%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.479

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

35242

$477,700

Shelby Co.

$326,100

Alabama

$209,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

35242

$1,472

Shelby Co.

$1,401

Alabama

$1,007

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

74%

2–4 units

5–19 units

16%

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 25,431
Owner-occupied: 73.2%
Vacant: 5.7%
Median year built: 1998
Median rooms: 7
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 51.9%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 24.6%
Home value to income: 4.1× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

74%

Carpooled

Transit

0.0%

Walked

0.6%

Bicycle

Worked from home

19%

Other

0.7%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

11%

10–19

23%

20–29

27%

30–44

27%

45–59

60+

Average commute

26.2 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

1.3%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

65.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

16%

Sales

13%

Healthcare

10%

Business and finance

10%

Education

Office and admin

Computer and math

Food service

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Cleaning and personal care

Construction and repair

Transportation and moving

Production

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.0%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

17%

Finance, insurance and real estate

12%

Professional and technical services

11%

Education

Retail

Manufacturing

Restaurants and hotels

Other services

Construction

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Wholesale

Admin, support and management

Public administration

Information

Arts and recreation

Agriculture and mining

0.1%

Median earnings per worker

$62,631

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

10.2%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

10.4%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

10.5%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	35242	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$86,652	$74,888
Service	$23,087	$26,804
Sales and office	$50,992	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$42,964	$49,199
Production and transportation	$32,837	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

10%

Some college

16%

Associate's

Bachelor's

41%

Graduate

25%

High school graduate or higher: 97.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 65.8%
Graduate or professional degree: 25.1%
Households with broadband: 95.9%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 87.3%
No internet access: 1.7%
Without health insurance: 3.4%
Limited-English households: 1.2%

Geography

City (USPS): Birmingham
State: Alabama
County: Shelby County
Center point: 33.4246° N, 86.6709° W
Land area: 52 sq mi
Water area: 2.2 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

35242 spans 2 counties

Shelby County80% of land
Jefferson County20% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Hoover18% of zip
Birmingham13% of zip
Vestavia Hills10% of zip
Shoal Creek (unincorporated)9% of zip
Meadowbrook (unincorporated)8% of zip
Highland Lakes (unincorporated)7% of zip
Brook Highland (unincorporated)5% of zip
Eagle Point (unincorporated)4% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 35242

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
35243	Birmingham, AL	4.2 mi	18,176	$99,645	$538,400
35223	Birmingham, AL	5.9 mi	10,666	$168,278	$775,100
35216	Birmingham, AL	6.8 mi	34,327	$74,525	$398,200
35213	Birmingham, AL	7.1 mi	15,603	$159,824	$789,800
35229	Birmingham, AL	7.6 mi	2,792	—	—
35043	Chelsea, AL	7.9 mi	15,837	$121,356	$366,200
35147	Sterrett, AL	8.1 mi	6,897	$91,739	$317,300
35210	Birmingham, AL	8.1 mi	13,775	$73,061	$255,800
35124	Pelham, AL	8.2 mi	25,238	$99,726	$307,600
35094	Leeds, AL	8.4 mi	14,854	$74,625	$234,900
35209	Birmingham, AL	8.6 mi	32,734	$71,439	$504,600
35222	Birmingham, AL	8.9 mi	8,361	$84,066	$399,800

Zip codes like 35242 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 35242

What city is zip code 35242?

35242 is assigned to Birmingham, Alabama. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 35242 in?

35242 is mostly in Shelby County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 35242?

About 57,374 people live in 35242, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 35242 in?

35242 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 35242?

The median household income in 35242 is $117,047.

What zip codes are near 35242?

The closest zip codes to 35242 are 35243, 35223, 35216, 35213, 35229.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 35242, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.