Zip code 35986: Rainsville, Alabama

Q: What city is zip code 35986?

35986 is assigned to Rainsville, Alabama. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 35986 in?

35986 is in DeKalb County, Alabama.

Q: What is the population of 35986?

About 8,207 people live in 35986, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 35986?

The median household income in 35986 is $68,056.

Q: What zip codes are near 35986?

The closest zip codes to 35986 are 35968, 35988, 35971, 35744, 35771.

Residential delivery areaDeKalb CountyCentral Time

Population

8,207

Median household income

$68K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$222K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$558/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

46.8

U.S. 38.9

Land area

43 sq mi

191 people/sq mi

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

About 35986

35986 is a small-town zip code in Rainsville, Alabama (DeKalb County), covering 43 sq mi of land. About 8,207 people live here, or 191 per square mile. The median resident is 46.8 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $68,056 a year, 16% below the national median of $80,734. 8% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $221,600, or 3.3 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 90% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $558 a month.

25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 20.9 minutes each way, and 3% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in production and manufacturing; management; and office and administrative support. 16% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 35986 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Homeownership rate89.5%
95th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · AL 70.2%92nd of 605 in AL
Self-employed workers16.1%
93rd
U.S. 10% · AL 9.1%60th of 612 in AL
Median age46.8
91st
U.S. 38.9 · AL 39.3135th of 616 in AL
Residents 65 and older22.5%
85th
U.S. 17.2% · AL 17.8%155th of 616 in AL
Rent-burdened renters58.7%
79th
U.S. 51.1% · AL 48.8%116th of 568 in AL
Government workers17.4%
74th
U.S. 14.5% · AL 16.6%216th of 612 in AL
Housing vacancy8%
60th
U.S. 10.1% · AL 14.5%503rd of 606 in AL
Broadband access92.9%
57th
U.S. 91% · AL 87.5%97th of 605 in AL
Uninsured rate6.8%
50th
U.S. 8.4% · AL 9.2%414th of 614 in AL
Median earnings per worker$44,187
37th
U.S. $49,666 · AL $43,396217th of 605 in AL
Bachelor's degree or higher24.9%
34th
U.S. 35.7% · AL 28.4%164th of 612 in AL
Median household income$68,056
33rd
U.S. $80,734 · AL $63,999178th of 582 in AL
Poverty rate8%
32nd
U.S. 12.5% · AL 15.6%490th of 607 in AL
Veterans4.5%
32nd
U.S. 6.2% · AL 7.7%487th of 615 in AL
Per capita income$34,065
31st
U.S. $44,673 · AL $36,087203rd of 614 in AL
Residents under 1819.8%
30th
U.S. 22% · AL 22.2%395th of 616 in AL
Median home value$221,600
26th
U.S. $332,700 · AL $209,900119th of 565 in AL
Tech workers1.6%
25th
U.S. 3.8% · AL 2.7%230th of 612 in AL
Healthcare workers7.7%
23rd
U.S. 9.7% · AL 9.9%380th of 612 in AL
Population density191/sq mi
20th
U.S. 95/sq mi · AL 100/sq mi196th of 616 in AL
Foreign-born residents3.2%
19th
U.S. 14.1% · AL 4%170th of 616 in AL
Average commute20.9 min
17th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · AL 25.5 min507th of 587 in AL
Income inequality (Gini)0.391
15th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · AL 0.479474th of 603 in AL
Diversity index21.5
14th
U.S. 61.4 · AL 52.8456th of 616 in AL
Population8,207
13th
U.S. 334,922,499 · AL 5,086,768214th of 616 in AL
Work from home3.2%
3rd
U.S. 15.1% · AL 8.8%417th of 612 in AL
Unemployment rate1%
2nd
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · AL 4.7%528th of 612 in AL
Median gross rent$558
1st
U.S. $1,413 · AL $1,007474th of 503 in AL

Measure	35986	DeKalb	AL	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in AL
Homeownership rateStrength	89.5%	78.3%	70.2%	65.2%	95th	92nd of 605
Self-employed workers	16.1%	13.5%	9.1%	10%	93rd	60th of 612
Median age	46.8	39.5	39.3	38.9	91st	135th of 616
Residents 65 and older	22.5%	17.6%	17.8%	17.2%	85th	155th of 616
Rent-burdened renters	58.7%	44.4%	48.8%	51.1%	79th	116th of 568
Government workers	17.4%	12.3%	16.6%	14.5%	74th	216th of 612
Housing vacancy	8%	15.4%	14.5%	10.1%	60th	503rd of 606
Broadband access	92.9%	86.9%	87.5%	91%	57th	97th of 605
Uninsured rate	6.8%	15.5%	9.2%	8.4%	50th	414th of 614
Median earnings per worker	$44,187	$35,322	$43,396	$49,666	37th	217th of 605
Bachelor's degree or higher	24.9%	14.1%	28.4%	35.7%	34th	164th of 612
Median household income	$68,056	$51,204	$63,999	$80,734	33rd	178th of 582
Poverty rate	8%	22.4%	15.6%	12.5%	32nd	490th of 607
Veterans	4.5%	5.7%	7.7%	6.2%	32nd	487th of 615
Per capita income	$34,065	$26,490	$36,087	$44,673	31st	203rd of 614
Residents under 18	19.8%	24%	22.2%	22%	30th	395th of 616
Median home value	$221,600	$152,700	$209,900	$332,700	26th	119th of 565
Tech workers	1.6%	0.8%	2.7%	3.8%	25th	230th of 612
Healthcare workers	7.7%	8.2%	9.9%	9.7%	23rd	380th of 612
Population density	191/sq mi	93/sq mi	100/sq mi	95/sq mi	20th	196th of 616
Foreign-born residents	3.2%	7.8%	4%	14.1%	19th	170th of 616
Average commuteStrength	20.9 min	24.8 min	25.5 min	26.4 min	17th	507th of 587
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.391	0.459	0.479	0.483	15th	474th of 603
Diversity index	21.5	37.7	52.8	61.4	14th	456th of 616
Population	8,207	72,269	5,086,768	334,922,499	13th	214th of 616
Work from home	3.2%	4.4%	8.8%	15.1%	3rd	417th of 612
Unemployment rateStrength	1%	4.1%	4.7%	5.2%	2nd	528th of 612
Median gross rent	$558	$693	$1,007	$1,413	1st	474th of 503

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

15%

5–17

10%

18–24

10%

25–34

35–44

11%

45–54

18%

55–64

17%

65–74

75+

Median age

46.8

Under 18

19.8%

65 and over

22.5%

Race and ethnicity

White88%
Black1.0%
Hispanic4%
Asian0.4%
Native American0.3%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.8%
Multiracial5%

Diversity index

21.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

3.2%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

76.4%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

95%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.7%

Asian / Pacific

0.2%

Other

0.1%

Households

Households: 3,464
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 73.1%
Married couples: 59.5%
Living alone: 23.4%
Veterans (of adults): 4.5%
Male / female: 53% / 47%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

17%

$25–50k

19%

$50–75k

18%

$75–100k

14%

$100–150k

25%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

35986

$68,056

DeKalb Co.

$51,204

Alabama

$63,999

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$34,065

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

7.9%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.391

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

35986

$221,600

DeKalb Co.

$152,700

Alabama

$209,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

35986

$558

DeKalb Co.

$693

Alabama

$1,007

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

87%

2–4 units

5–19 units

0.8%

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 3,766
Owner-occupied: 89.5%
Vacant: 8%
Median year built: 1992
Median rooms: 6.6
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 58.7%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 17.1%
Home value to income: 3.3× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

94%

Carpooled

Transit

0.1%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

25%

10–19

36%

20–29

14%

30–44

12%

45–59

60+

Average commute

20.9 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

58.4%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Production

20%

Management

12%

Office and admin

11%

Education

Healthcare

Transportation and moving

Engineering and science

Sales

Construction and repair

Arts, media and sports

Business and finance

Cleaning and personal care

Food service

Police and fire

Computer and math

Legal and social services

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.0%

Industries

Manufacturing

24%

Education

14%

Information

11%

Health care and social assistance

10%

Construction

Admin, support and management

Retail

Finance, insurance and real estate

Other services

Public administration

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Restaurants and hotels

Professional and technical services

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

0.7%

Agriculture and mining

0.2%

Median earnings per worker

$44,187

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

16.1%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

17.4%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.7%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	35986	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$56,190	$74,888
Service	$22,277	$26,804
Sales and office	$27,364	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$41,482	$49,199
Production and transportation	$43,269	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

13%

High school

26%

Some college

23%

Associate's

13%

Bachelor's

17%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 86.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 24.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 7.8%
Households with broadband: 92.9%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 74.3%
No internet access: 6.4%
Without health insurance: 6.8%
Limited-English households: 1.1%

Geography

City (USPS): Rainsville
State: Alabama
County: DeKalb County
Center point: 34.5048° N, 85.8403° W
Land area: 43 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Rainsville46% of zip
Shiloh4% of zip
Powell2% of zip
Sylvania1% of zip

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

Zip codes near 35986

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
35968	Fort Payne, AL	3.5 mi	4,763	$43,539	$122,400
35988	Sylvania, AL	4.4 mi	2,368	$53,684	$158,500
35971	Fyffe, AL	6.9 mi	4,452	$58,528	$143,100
35744	Dutton, AL	8.3 mi	2,574	$54,868	$157,900
35771	Section, AL	9.7 mi	3,414	$51,875	$134,900
35963	Dawson, AL	11 mi	1,398	$59,926	$82,600
35967	Fort Payne, AL	11 mi	16,957	$47,051	$157,300
35978	Henagar, AL	11 mi	5,580	$55,509	$137,100
35765	Pisgah, AL	13 mi	4,175	$64,009	$145,300
35989	Valley Head, AL	13 mi	3,330	$43,580	$94,100
35974	Geraldine, AL	14 mi	1,518	$52,054	$155,900
35975	Groveoak, AL	14 mi	1,649	$48,225	$176,100

Zip codes like 35986 elsewhere

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

Questions about 35986

What city is zip code 35986?

35986 is assigned to Rainsville, Alabama. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 35986 in?

35986 is in DeKalb County, Alabama.

What is the population of 35986?

About 8,207 people live in 35986, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 35986 in?

35986 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 35986?

The median household income in 35986 is $68,056.

What zip codes are near 35986?

The closest zip codes to 35986 are 35968, 35988, 35971, 35744, 35771.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 35986, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.