Population 7,496 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of ZIP 35953: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in ZIP 35953
Household size in ZIP 35953
| Period | ZIP 35953 | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.76 | 2.56 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.74 | 2.59 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.80 | 2.59 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.76 | 2.57 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.00 | +0.01 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
The typical household in ZIP 35953 holds 2.76 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the east. ZIP 35953 has larger households than the great majority of Alabama ZIP codes.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in ZIP 35953
| Period | ZIP 35953 | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.5 | 37.9 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.1 | 39.1 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.3 | 39.9 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.7 | 40.0 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.2 | +2.1 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
ZIP 35953 skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.7, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.5, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only 27 of the 288 Alabama ZIP codes with 5,000+ people are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in ZIP 35953
| Period | ZIP 35953 | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.9% | 12.1% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.4% | 12.0% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.7% | 11.2% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.4% | 12.0% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in eight households in ZIP 35953 (13.4%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is little changed from 2006–10, while the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in ZIP 35953
Renters in ZIP 35953
| Period | ZIP 35953 | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.9% | 27.9% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.3% | 30.4% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.6% | 30.6% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 13.7% | 29.2% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | +1.3 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 13.7% of households in ZIP 35953 rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About half of owners (49.8%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the northeast; owners are most common in the northwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.2 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in ZIP 35953
| Period | ZIP 35953 | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.6% | 12.5% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 12.8% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.2% | 13.6% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.2% | 11.6% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 16.2% of the housing in ZIP 35953, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has edged up 0.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in ZIP 35953
| Period | ZIP 35953 | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1979 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1988 | 1981 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1990 | 1982 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1992 | 1984 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +5 | +6 | +6 |
ZIP 35953 has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1992, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1983 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the northwest has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in ZIP 35953
| Period | ZIP 35953 | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $681 | $827 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $671 | $903 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $899 | $984 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $777 | $1,238 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$96 | +$412 | +$375 | +$606 |
Rent in ZIP 35953 runs $777 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $96 a month since 2006–10, up 14%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 30.9% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the northeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in ZIP 35953
Bachelor's degrees in ZIP 35953
| Period | ZIP 35953 | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 28.3% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 29.1% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 31.1% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.2% | 34.7% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | +6.4 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in ZIP 35953: 11.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Of the 288 Alabama ZIP codes with 5,000+ people, only 16 have a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in ZIP 35953
| Period | ZIP 35953 | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 75.4% | 85.7% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 75.3% | 86.8% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 79.9% | 88.9% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.8% | 90.5% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +11.4 pts | +4.9 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in eight adults in ZIP 35953 never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.8% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 11.4 points, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in ZIP 35953
| Period | ZIP 35953 | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 8.0% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 9.2% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 5.9% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.1 pts | −3.6 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in ZIP 35953 than nationally: unemployment was 4.4%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 5.1 points, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
ZIP 35953 compared with nearby ZIP codes
| ZIP code | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 35953 | 2.76 | 45.7 | 13.4% | 13.7% | 16.2% | 1992 | $777 | 11.2% | 86.8% | 4.4% |
| ZIP 35987 | 2.89 | 42.3 | 8.8% | 9.3% | 14.3% | 1988 | $746 | 12.3% | 92.7% | 5.1% |
| ZIP 35131 | 2.28 | 44.3 | 12.0% | 21.5% | 13.8% | 1988 | $777 | 11.4% | 86.1% | 5.0% |
| ZIP 35146 | 2.66 | 40.2 | 4.5% | 12.4% | 7.1% | 1999 | $957 | 24.3% | 89.2% | 3.7% |
| ZIP 35972 | 2.43 | 50.9 | 7.8% | 4.2% | 10.2% | 1976 | $697 | 16.0% | 84.1% | 2.4% |
| ZIP 36271 | 2.69 | 42.3 | 17.4% | 7.8% | 12.9% | 1991 | $818 | 15.1% | 90.7% | 5.6% |
| ZIP 35907 | 2.84 | 44.6 | 5.0% | 7.0% | 6.3% | 1988 | $1,198 | 24.2% | 94.1% | 2.9% |
| ZIP 35906 | 2.46 | 42.8 | 14.5% | 32.3% | 12.9% | 1988 | $1,074 | 24.0% | 84.0% | 6.7% |
| ZIP 35121 | 2.64 | 44.6 | 12.1% | 27.5% | 10.9% | 1984 | $695 | 20.1% | 82.2% | 5.1% |
| ZIP 35905 | 2.56 | 41.8 | 14.2% | 17.3% | 12.7% | 1980 | $941 | 20.4% | 91.9% | 3.2% |
| ZIP 36250 | 2.68 | 41.3 | 9.2% | 12.4% | 13.9% | 1988 | $851 | 24.5% | 90.1% | 1.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Zip codes with similar populations: 45430, OH · 55041, MN · 54495, WI · 54217, WI · 54165, WI · 53181, WI · 53146, WI · 53130, WI · 52742, IA · 50707, IA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up ZIP 35953. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.