Population 5,329 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in ZIP 35978
Household size in ZIP 35978
| Period | ZIP 35978 | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.50 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.77 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.60 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.92 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.43 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in ZIP 35978 are large by national standards, averaging 2.92 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Household size has climbed from 2.50 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Only 18 of the 288 Alabama ZIP codes with 5,000+ people have larger households.
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 35978
| Period | ZIP 35978 | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.4 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.9 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.0 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.3 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −4.0 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of ZIP 35978 is 38.3 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 42.4, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the south and oldest in the west.
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 35978
| Period | ZIP 35978 | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.7% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.8% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in ZIP 35978 than nationally: 9.0%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged up 0.6 points since 2006–10, even as 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 35978
Renters in ZIP 35978
| Period | ZIP 35978 | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.2% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.8% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.1% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.8% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 21.8% of households in ZIP 35978 rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About six in ten owners (59.3%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.3 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 35978
| Period | ZIP 35978 | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.6% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.8% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.9% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.8% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 16.8% of the housing in ZIP 35978, 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 is down 0.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 35978
| Period | ZIP 35978 | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in ZIP 35978 are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1985, versus 1980 across the U.S. Alabama as a whole looks much the same. The median year built has moved up from 1977 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 35978
| Period | ZIP 35978 | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $511 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $560 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $532 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $888 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$377 | +$375 | +$606 |
A typical rental in ZIP 35978 costs $888 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $377 a month since 2006–10, up 74%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 21.5% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the southeast; the most affordable are in the southwest.
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 35978
Bachelor's degrees in ZIP 35978
| Period | ZIP 35978 | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 10.6% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.5% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in ZIP 35978 have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 12.5%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has edged up 1.3 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Only 23 of the 288 Alabama ZIP codes with 5,000+ people 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 35978
| Period | ZIP 35978 | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 73.3% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 73.2% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 78.1% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 83.2% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.9 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in six adults in ZIP 35978 never finished high school, well above the national share: only 83.2% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 9.9 points, as it has nationally. ZIP 35978 has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of Alabama ZIP codes.
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 35978
| Period | ZIP 35978 | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.4% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in ZIP 35978 runs below the national rate: 3.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 3.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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 35978 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 35978 | 2.92 | 38.3 | 9.0% | 21.8% | 16.8% | 1985 | $888 | 12.5% | 83.2% | 3.7% |
| ZIP 35765 | 2.30 | 48.6 | 5.2% | 21.5% | 13.9% | 1987 | $827 | 18.4% | 86.1% | 3.0% |
| ZIP 35989 | 2.63 | 42.0 | 5.0% | 19.0% | 25.0% | 1987 | $821 | 16.8% | 80.4% | 5.0% |
| ZIP 35988 | 2.65 | 44.6 | 14.0% | 14.9% | 9.8% | 1989 | $684 | 20.9% | 84.5% | 2.9% |
| ZIP 35981 | 2.97 | 44.0 | 7.1% | 18.1% | 15.2% | 1988 | $912 | 15.5% | 81.4% | 9.3% |
| ZIP 35744 | 2.89 | 40.0 | 13.5% | 22.6% | 10.1% | 1992 | $772 | 14.9% | 82.2% | 4.0% |
| ZIP 35986 | 2.41 | 44.3 | 9.6% | 14.9% | 9.8% | 1988 | $667 | 20.5% | 88.7% | 1.2% |
| ZIP 35966 | 2.69 | 43.1 | 12.1% | 19.4% | 14.0% | 1988 | $827 | 10.6% | 71.5% | 10.7% |
| ZIP 35984 | 2.17 | 54.8 | 3.3% | 10.8% | 37.6% | 1988 | $804 | 20.8% | 88.9% | 1.9% |
| ZIP 35752 | 2.45 | 42.4 | 5.4% | 28.3% | 11.3% | 1984 | $1,049 | 12.1% | 81.4% | 4.3% |
| ZIP 35771 | 2.54 | 45.6 | 8.2% | 19.2% | 14.9% | 1989 | $661 | 15.7% | 83.1% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Zip codes with similar populations: 63764, MO · 42348, KY · 42724, KY · 43112, OH · 44851, OH · 45856, OH · 62201, IL · 62353, IL · 62951, IL · 63023, MO
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 35978. 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.
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