Population 8,680 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in ZIP 36853
Household size in ZIP 36853
| Period | ZIP 36853 | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.37 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.25 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.35 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.36 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
ZIP 36853 is a place of small households, averaging 2.36 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the east. ZIP 36853 has smaller 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 36853
| Period | ZIP 36853 | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.1 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 49.7 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 51.3 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 51.2 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.1 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
ZIP 36853 skews older: half of its residents are older than 51.2, 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 48.1, mirroring the country. Only four 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 36853
| Period | ZIP 36853 | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.1% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.6% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in ZIP 36853 (9.6%), below the national share of 11.6%. Compared with other Alabama ZIP codes, ZIP 36853 has a lower share of single-parent households than most.
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 36853
Renters in ZIP 36853
| Period | ZIP 36853 | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.9% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.6% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.5% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.9% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 19.9% of households in ZIP 36853 rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 55.1% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the west. The renter share has risen 3.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 36853
| Period | ZIP 36853 | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.5% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 33.5% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 37.4% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.4% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in ZIP 36853: 34.4% of homes are empty, 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 1.9 points, 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 36853
| Period | ZIP 36853 | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +6 | +6 |
ZIP 36853 has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1989, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1981 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the north.
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 36853
| Period | ZIP 36853 | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $676 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $693 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $736 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,179 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$502 | +$375 | +$606 |
Rent in ZIP 36853 runs $1,179 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in Alabama overall ($1,091). Rent has climbed $502 a month since 2006–10, up 74%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 21.9% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 36853
Bachelor's degrees in ZIP 36853
| Period | ZIP 36853 | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.5% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.7% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.0% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.3% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.9 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in ZIP 36853 than nationally: 32.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Even so, the share is higher than in Alabama as a whole (29.0%). The share with a degree has risen 14.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 36853
| Period | ZIP 36853 | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 76.4% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.3% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 84.2% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.3% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +13.9 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in ZIP 36853 have finished high school as nationally: 90.3%, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in Alabama as a whole (88.7%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 13.9 points, a much bigger shift than 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 36853
| Period | ZIP 36853 | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.2% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in ZIP 36853 is close to the national rate: 5.6% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Alabama as a whole (4.9%). Unemployment has fallen 3.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 36853 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 36853 | 2.36 | 51.2 | 9.6% | 19.9% | 34.4% | 1989 | $1,179 | 32.3% | 90.3% | 5.6% |
| ZIP 36861 | 2.66 | 54.4 | 13.1% | 8.9% | 30.6% | 1988 | $707 | 22.5% | 89.7% | 1.8% |
| ZIP 36850 | 2.39 | 44.4 | 10.4% | 17.3% | 22.7% | 1981 | $690 | 13.0% | 83.6% | 5.3% |
| ZIP 36879 | 2.83 | 43.7 | 3.6% | 11.3% | 7.9% | 1997 | $1,493 | 50.2% | 94.0% | 1.9% |
| ZIP 36024 | 2.36 | 51.6 | 7.1% | 15.9% | 25.4% | 1994 | $906 | 23.3% | 92.8% | 1.6% |
| ZIP 36865 | 4.02 | 24.1 | 2.6% | 18.3% | 5.5% | 2003 | $897 | 57.2% | 95.5% | 5.2% |
| ZIP 36026 | 1.97 | 62.5 | 5.3% | 3.0% | 43.3% | 1993 | $784 | 32.8% | 93.9% | 0.4% |
| ZIP 36849 | 3.62 | 19.7 | 3.8% | 87.5% | 30.9% | 1995 | $1,540 | 24.7% | 89.2% | 12.2% |
| ZIP 36830 | 2.54 | 34.3 | 6.0% | 44.1% | 14.5% | 1998 | $1,372 | 61.4% | 96.1% | 1.9% |
| ZIP 36801 | 2.36 | 41.2 | 11.0% | 36.9% | 11.5% | 1987 | $1,082 | 34.3% | 88.4% | 5.4% |
| ZIP 35136 | 2.21 | 54.5 | 7.3% | 12.9% | 33.2% | 1984 | $669 | 17.8% | 88.6% | 3.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Zip codes with similar populations: 85004, AZ · 27983, NC · 28466, NC · 31052, GA · 31087, GA · 31779, GA · 31808, GA · 32179, FL · 34291, FL · 35503, AL
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 36853. 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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