Zip code 36874: Salem, Alabama

Q: What city is zip code 36874?

36874 is assigned to Salem, Alabama. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 36874 in?

36874 is mostly in Lee County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 36874?

About 9,096 people live in 36874, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 36874?

The median household income in 36874 is $66,986.

Q: What zip codes are near 36874?

The closest zip codes to 36874 are 36877, 36870, 36802, 36872, 36804.

Residential delivery areaLee CountyCentral Time

Population

9,096

Median household income

$67K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$195K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,074/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

U.S. 38.9

Land area

112 sq mi

81 people/sq mi

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

About 36874

36874 is a small-town zip code in Salem, Alabama (Lee County), covering 112 sq mi of land. About 9,096 people live here, or 81 per square mile. The median resident is 49 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $66,986 a year, 17% below the national median of $80,734. 9.1% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $194,900, or 2.9 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 91% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,074 a month.

23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 30.1 minutes each way, and 7% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in healthcare; office and administrative support; and management.

How 36874 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Homeownership rate90.7%
97th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · AL 70.2%69th of 605 in AL
Veterans14.1%
97th
U.S. 6.2% · AL 7.7%42nd of 615 in AL
Median age49
94th
U.S. 38.9 · AL 39.3102nd of 616 in AL
Residents 65 and older24%
90th
U.S. 17.2% · AL 17.8%120th of 616 in AL
Healthcare workers12.6%
86th
U.S. 9.7% · AL 9.9%129th of 612 in AL
Government workers19.9%
84th
U.S. 14.5% · AL 16.6%149th of 612 in AL
Housing vacancy13.2%
82nd
U.S. 10.1% · AL 14.5%357th of 606 in AL
Average commute30.1 min
74th
U.S. 26.4 min · AL 25.5 min204th of 587 in AL
Uninsured rate7.8%
58th
U.S. 8.4% · AL 9.2%358th of 614 in AL
Self-employed workers9.5%
53rd
U.S. 10% · AL 9.1%273rd of 612 in AL
Income inequality (Gini)0.437
52nd
U.S. 0.483 · AL 0.479323rd of 603 in AL
Median earnings per worker$46,027
43rd
U.S. $49,666 · AL $43,396172nd of 605 in AL
Per capita income$36,621
39th
U.S. $44,673 · AL $36,087152nd of 614 in AL
Poverty rate9.1%
39th
U.S. 12.5% · AL 15.6%472nd of 607 in AL
Tech workers2.2%
37th
U.S. 3.8% · AL 2.7%165th of 612 in AL
Broadband access90%
34th
U.S. 91% · AL 87.5%169th of 605 in AL
Median household income$66,986
31st
U.S. $80,734 · AL $63,999184th of 582 in AL
Bachelor's degree or higher23%
29th
U.S. 35.7% · AL 28.4%190th of 612 in AL
Median gross rent$1,074
26th
U.S. $1,413 · AL $1,007115th of 503 in AL
Foreign-born residents4.2%
25th
U.S. 14.1% · AL 4%124th of 616 in AL
Diversity index30.5
24th
U.S. 61.4 · AL 52.8371st of 616 in AL
Residents under 1818.8%
23rd
U.S. 22% · AL 22.2%435th of 616 in AL
Median home value$194,900
20th
U.S. $332,700 · AL $209,900179th of 565 in AL
Work from home7.3%
18th
U.S. 15.1% · AL 8.8%216th of 612 in AL
Population9,096
14th
U.S. 334,922,499 · AL 5,086,768196th of 616 in AL
Population density81/sq mi
11th
U.S. 95/sq mi · AL 100/sq mi285th of 616 in AL
Unemployment rate1%
2nd
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · AL 4.7%531st of 612 in AL
Rent-burdened renters20.1%
2nd
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · AL 48.8%499th of 568 in AL

Measure	36874	Lee	AL	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in AL
Homeownership rateStrength	90.7%	66.3%	70.2%	65.2%	97th	69th of 605
Veterans	14.1%	7.2%	7.7%	6.2%	97th	42nd of 615
Median age	49	34	39.3	38.9	94th	102nd of 616
Residents 65 and older	24%	13.3%	17.8%	17.2%	90th	120th of 616
Healthcare workers	12.6%	9.9%	9.9%	9.7%	86th	129th of 612
Government workers	19.9%	21.9%	16.6%	14.5%	84th	149th of 612
Housing vacancy	13.2%	12.8%	14.5%	10.1%	82nd	357th of 606
Average commute	30.1 min	22.3 min	25.5 min	26.4 min	74th	204th of 587
Uninsured rate	7.8%	8.6%	9.2%	8.4%	58th	358th of 614
Self-employed workers	9.5%	8.3%	9.1%	10%	53rd	273rd of 612
Income inequality (Gini)	0.437	0.494	0.479	0.483	52nd	323rd of 603
Median earnings per worker	$46,027	$43,582	$43,396	$49,666	43rd	172nd of 605
Per capita income	$36,621	$35,940	$36,087	$44,673	39th	152nd of 614
Poverty rate	9.1%	18.9%	15.6%	12.5%	39th	472nd of 607
Tech workers	2.2%	2%	2.7%	3.8%	37th	165th of 612
Broadband access	90%	88.9%	87.5%	91%	34th	169th of 605
Median household income	$66,986	$65,824	$63,999	$80,734	31st	184th of 582
Bachelor's degree or higher	23%	42.4%	28.4%	35.7%	29th	190th of 612
Median gross rent	$1,074	$1,058	$1,007	$1,413	26th	115th of 503
Foreign-born residents	4.2%	7%	4%	14.1%	25th	124th of 616
Diversity index	30.5	52.1	52.8	61.4	24th	371st of 616
Residents under 18	18.8%	20.9%	22.2%	22%	23rd	435th of 616
Median home value	$194,900	$262,200	$209,900	$332,700	20th	179th of 565
Work from home	7.3%	9.5%	8.8%	15.1%	18th	216th of 612
Population	9,096	181,134	5,086,768	334,922,499	14th	196th of 616
Population density	81/sq mi	298/sq mi	100/sq mi	95/sq mi	11th	285th of 616
Unemployment rateStrength	1%	3.5%	4.7%	5.2%	2nd	531st of 612
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	20.1%	57.3%	48.8%	51.1%	2nd	499th of 568

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

18–24

13%

25–34

35–44

16%

45–54

15%

55–64

14%

65–74

10%

75+

Median age

Under 18

18.8%

65 and over

24%

Race and ethnicity

White82%
Black14%
Hispanic2%
Asian0.5%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial1%

Diversity index

30.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

4.2%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

45.3%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

97%

Spanish

0.9%

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 3,643
Average household size: 2.5
Family households: 71.8%
Married couples: 62.5%
Living alone: 26.1%
Veterans (of adults): 14.1%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

19%

$25–50k

19%

$50–75k

18%

$75–100k

12%

$100–150k

21%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

36874

$66,986

Lee Co.

$65,824

Alabama

$63,999

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$36,621

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

9.1%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

11.6%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.437

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

36874

$194,900

Lee Co.

$262,200

Alabama

$209,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

36874

$1,074

Lee Co.

$1,058

Alabama

$1,007

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

70%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

0.2%

Mobile home

30%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 4,197
Owner-occupied: 90.7%
Vacant: 13.2%
Median year built: 1998
Median rooms: 6.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 20.1%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 20.1%
Home value to income: 2.9× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

88%

Carpooled

Transit

0.2%

Walked

0.2%

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

0.3%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

20%

20–29

26%

30–44

41%

45–59

60+

Average commute

30.1 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

56.9%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Healthcare

13%

Office and admin

11%

Management

10%

Construction and repair

Transportation and moving

Education

Production

Sales

Cleaning and personal care

Business and finance

Police and fire

Arts, media and sports

Food service

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

0.8%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.3%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

16%

Retail

13%

Manufacturing

10%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

10%

Public administration

10%

Finance, insurance and real estate

Education

Construction

Professional and technical services

Other services

Admin, support and management

Restaurants and hotels

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Agriculture and mining

Information

Median earnings per worker

$46,027

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

9.5%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

19.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

1.9%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	36874	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$47,689	$74,888
Service	$22,250	$26,804
Sales and office	$41,168	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$61,304	$49,199
Production and transportation	$40,764	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

11%

High school

32%

Some college

24%

Associate's

11%

Bachelor's

14%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 89.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 23%
Graduate or professional degree: 8.7%
Households with broadband: 90%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 56.1%
No internet access: 7.4%
Without health insurance: 7.8%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Salem
State: Alabama
County: Lee County
Center point: 32.5643° N, 85.1985° W
Land area: 112 sq mi
Water area: 1.6 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

36874 spans 2 counties

Lee County95% of land
Russell County5% of land

Zip codes near 36874

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
36877	Smiths Station, AL	5.7 mi	14,134	$78,103	$224,200
36870	Phenix City, AL	7.3 mi	17,951	$72,500	$195,100
36802	Opelika, AL · PO box	8.8 mi	—	—	—
36872	Valley, AL · PO box	8.8 mi	—	—	—
36804	Opelika, AL	8.9 mi	20,535	$61,880	$218,000
31904	Columbus, GA	11 mi	35,405	$66,291	$226,000
36867	Phenix City, AL	11 mi	22,821	$48,026	$207,600
36803	Opelika, AL · PO box	12 mi	—	—	—
31808	Fortson, GA	12 mi	8,893	$109,294	$291,700
36868	Phenix City, AL · PO box	12 mi	—	—	—
36869	Phenix City, AL	13 mi	21,518	$50,061	$136,700
36854	Valley, AL	13 mi	16,537	$55,973	$160,100

Zip codes like 36874 elsewhere

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

Questions about 36874

What city is zip code 36874?

36874 is assigned to Salem, Alabama. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 36874 in?

36874 is mostly in Lee County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 36874?

About 9,096 people live in 36874, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 36874 in?

36874 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 36874?

The median household income in 36874 is $66,986.

What zip codes are near 36874?

The closest zip codes to 36874 are 36877, 36870, 36802, 36872, 36804.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 36874, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.