Zip code 35903: Gadsden, Alabama

Q: What city is zip code 35903?

35903 is assigned to Gadsden, Alabama. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 35903 in?

35903 is mostly in Etowah County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 35903?

About 17,113 people live in 35903, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 35903?

The median household income in 35903 is $53,122.

Q: What zip codes are near 35903?

The closest zip codes to 35903 are 35901, 35905, 35904, 35902, 36279.

Residential delivery areaEtowah CountyCentral Time

Population

17,113

Median household income

$53K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$172K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$861/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

44.1

U.S. 38.9

Land area

68 sq mi

251 people/sq mi

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

About 35903

35903 is a small-town zip code in Gadsden, Alabama (Etowah County), covering 68 sq mi of land. About 17,113 people live here, or 251 per square mile. The median resident is 44.1 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $53,122 a year, 34% below the national median of $80,734. 15.3% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $172,300, or 3.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 65% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $861 a month.

18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 26.4 minutes each way, and 4% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in production and manufacturing; transportation and moving goods; and healthcare.

How 35903 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Housing vacancy18.7%
92nd
U.S. 10.1% · AL 14.5%235th of 606 in AL
Median age44.1
82nd
U.S. 38.9 · AL 39.3192nd of 616 in AL
Government workers19.2%
82nd
U.S. 14.5% · AL 16.6%165th of 612 in AL
Uninsured rate10.9%
75th
U.S. 8.4% · AL 9.2%180th of 614 in AL
Healthcare workers11.3%
74th
U.S. 9.7% · AL 9.9%198th of 612 in AL
Poverty rate15.3%
70th
U.S. 12.5% · AL 15.6%306th of 607 in AL
Income inequality (Gini)0.447
60th
U.S. 0.483 · AL 0.479277th of 603 in AL
Diversity index52.9
57th
U.S. 61.4 · AL 52.8118th of 616 in AL
Residents 65 and older17.5%
57th
U.S. 17.2% · AL 17.8%374th of 616 in AL
Average commute26.4 min
53rd
U.S. 26.4 min · AL 25.5 min336th of 587 in AL
Rent-burdened renters50.8%
50th
U.S. 51.1% · AL 48.8%222nd of 568 in AL
Veterans5.4%
44th
U.S. 6.2% · AL 7.7%430th of 615 in AL
Homeownership rate65.4%
42nd
U.S. 65.2% · AL 70.2%486th of 605 in AL
Unemployment rate4%
34th
U.S. 5.2% · AL 4.7%318th of 612 in AL
Broadband access89.7%
32nd
U.S. 91% · AL 87.5%179th of 605 in AL
Population17,113
26th
U.S. 334,922,499 · AL 5,086,76896th of 616 in AL
Median earnings per worker$41,063
25th
U.S. $49,666 · AL $43,396298th of 605 in AL
Population density251/sq mi
23rd
U.S. 95/sq mi · AL 100/sq mi167th of 616 in AL
Per capita income$30,903
21st
U.S. $44,673 · AL $36,087282nd of 614 in AL
Foreign-born residents3%
18th
U.S. 14.1% · AL 4%184th of 616 in AL
Bachelor's degree or higher18.1%
16th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · AL 28.4%281st of 612 in AL
Residents under 1817.4%
16th
U.S. 22% · AL 22.2%477th of 616 in AL
Median home value$172,300
15th
U.S. $332,700 · AL $209,900243rd of 565 in AL
Median household income$53,122
12th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · AL $63,999325th of 582 in AL
Median gross rent$861
11th
U.S. $1,413 · AL $1,007249th of 503 in AL
Self-employed workers5.6%
7th
U.S. 10% · AL 9.1%481st of 612 in AL
Tech workers0.5%
6th
U.S. 3.8% · AL 2.7%366th of 612 in AL
Work from home3.9%
4th
U.S. 15.1% · AL 8.8%382nd of 612 in AL

Measure	35903	Etowah	AL	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in AL
Housing vacancy	18.7%	17.2%	14.5%	10.1%	92nd	235th of 606
Median age	44.1	41.7	39.3	38.9	82nd	192nd of 616
Government workers	19.2%	15.7%	16.6%	14.5%	82nd	165th of 612
Uninsured rate	10.9%	11.4%	9.2%	8.4%	75th	180th of 614
Healthcare workers	11.3%	11.5%	9.9%	9.7%	74th	198th of 612
Poverty rate	15.3%	16.9%	15.6%	12.5%	70th	306th of 607
Income inequality (Gini)	0.447	0.462	0.479	0.483	60th	277th of 603
Diversity index	52.9	39.5	52.8	61.4	57th	118th of 616
Residents 65 and older	17.5%	19.7%	17.8%	17.2%	57th	374th of 616
Average commute	26.4 min	25.5 min	25.5 min	26.4 min	53rd	336th of 587
Rent-burdened renters	50.8%	48.4%	48.8%	51.1%	50th	222nd of 568
Veterans	5.4%	6.3%	7.7%	6.2%	44th	430th of 615
Homeownership rate	65.4%	73.9%	70.2%	65.2%	42nd	486th of 605
Unemployment rate	4%	5.9%	4.7%	5.2%	34th	318th of 612
Broadband access	89.7%	87.5%	87.5%	91%	32nd	179th of 605
Population	17,113	103,105	5,086,768	334,922,499	26th	96th of 616
Median earnings per worker	$41,063	$38,267	$43,396	$49,666	25th	298th of 605
Population density	251/sq mi	193/sq mi	100/sq mi	95/sq mi	23rd	167th of 616
Per capita income	$30,903	$29,604	$36,087	$44,673	21st	282nd of 614
Foreign-born residents	3%	2.4%	4%	14.1%	18th	184th of 616
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	18.1%	18.1%	28.4%	35.7%	16th	281st of 612
Residents under 18	17.4%	21.9%	22.2%	22%	16th	477th of 616
Median home value	$172,300	$167,100	$209,900	$332,700	15th	243rd of 565
Median household incomeWeakness	$53,122	$54,563	$63,999	$80,734	12th	325th of 582
Median gross rent	$861	$847	$1,007	$1,413	11th	249th of 503
Self-employed workers	5.6%	11%	9.1%	10%	7th	481st of 612
Tech workers	0.5%	1.2%	2.7%	3.8%	6th	366th of 612
Work from home	3.9%	4%	8.8%	15.1%	4th	382nd 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

13%

5–17

11%

18–24

11%

25–34

12%

35–44

16%

45–54

15%

55–64

13%

65–74

75+

Median age

44.1

Under 18

17.4%

65 and over

17.5%

Race and ethnicity

White61%
Black30%
Hispanic5%
Asian0.8%
Native American0.2%
Pacific Islander0.1%
Other0%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

52.9

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

80.5%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

96%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.5%

Asian / Pacific

0.2%

Other

0.3%

Households

Households: 6,872
Average household size: 2.5
Family households: 60.4%
Married couples: 41.5%
Living alone: 34.4%
Veterans (of adults): 5.4%
Male / female: 46% / 54%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

23%

$25–50k

24%

$50–75k

19%

$75–100k

10%

$100–150k

14%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

35903

$53,122

Etowah Co.

$54,563

Alabama

$63,999

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$30,903

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

15.3%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

8.9%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.447

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

35903

$172,300

Etowah Co.

$167,100

Alabama

$209,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

35903

$861

Etowah Co.

$847

Alabama

$1,007

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

78%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

0.1%

Housing units: 8,449
Owner-occupied: 65.4%
Vacant: 18.7%
Median year built: 1972
Median rooms: 5.8
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 50.8%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 27.9%
Home value to income: 3.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

86%

Carpooled

Transit

0.1%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

0.8%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10%

10–19

42%

20–29

18%

30–44

14%

45–59

60+

10%

Average commute

26.4 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

60.1%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Production

15%

Transportation and moving

13%

Healthcare

11%

Office and admin

10%

Construction and repair

Sales

Education

Management

Food service

Cleaning and personal care

Police and fire

Legal and social services

Business and finance

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

0.5%

Computer and math

0.5%

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Manufacturing

21%

Health care and social assistance

18%

Retail

12%

Education

Public administration

Restaurants and hotels

Construction

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Admin, support and management

Other services

Wholesale

Professional and technical services

Information

Finance, insurance and real estate

0.9%

Agriculture and mining

0.2%

Arts and recreation

0.2%

Median earnings per worker

$41,063

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

5.6%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

19.2%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

4.6%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	35903	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$58,542	$74,888
Service	$18,866	$26,804
Sales and office	$34,512	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$52,483	$49,199
Production and transportation	$36,411	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

16%

High school

28%

Some college

28%

Associate's

11%

Bachelor's

12%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 84.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 18.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 6.3%
Households with broadband: 89.7%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 61.8%
No internet access: 8.6%
Without health insurance: 10.9%
Limited-English households: 0.5%

Geography

City (USPS): Gadsden
State: Alabama
County: Etowah County
Center point: 34.0257° N, 85.8451° W
Land area: 68 sq mi
Water area: 2.6 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

35903 spans 2 counties

Etowah County91% of land
Cherokee County9% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Ballplay (unincorporated)17% of zip
Hokes Bluff15% of zip
Gadsden13% of zip
Glencoe3% of zip

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

Zip codes near 35903

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
35901	Gadsden, AL	5.3 mi	18,769	$48,876	$166,200
35905	Gadsden, AL	6.3 mi	6,452	$67,042	$195,600
35904	Gadsden, AL	8.9 mi	14,015	$43,771	$117,700
35902	Gadsden, AL · PO box	9.3 mi	—	—	—
36279	Wellington, AL	11 mi	3,071	$53,024	$159,100
35983	Leesburg, AL	11 mi	3,572	$63,793	$174,300
36265	Jacksonville, AL	13 mi	22,452	$55,294	$175,900
35954	Attalla, AL	13 mi	12,054	$59,479	$135,700
35907	Gadsden, AL	14 mi	9,357	$76,390	$227,200
36272	Piedmont, AL	15 mi	12,954	$51,635	$142,600
35906	Rainbow City, AL	16 mi	10,446	$56,420	$220,900
36275	Spring Garden, AL · PO box	17 mi	—	—	—

Zip codes like 35903 elsewhere

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

Questions about 35903

What city is zip code 35903?

35903 is assigned to Gadsden, Alabama. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 35903 in?

35903 is mostly in Etowah County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 35903?

About 17,113 people live in 35903, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 35903 in?

35903 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 35903?

The median household income in 35903 is $53,122.

What zip codes are near 35903?

The closest zip codes to 35903 are 35901, 35905, 35904, 35902, 36279.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 35903, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.