35242 ZIP Code, Birmingham, AL

35242 is a ZIP code in Birmingham, Alabama — mostly in Shelby County (80% of its land), with smaller parts in Jefferson County. It covers 52 square miles of land. The closest ZIP codes are 35243, 35223 and 35216. 57,374 people live here in 23,978 households, which puts it among the most populous 1% of Alabama ZIP codes. At about 1,096 people per square mile it has suburban density, and most homes are owner-occupied (73%). Median household income is $117,047, well above the Alabama median of $63,999.

Quick facts

Key figures

MeasureValue
Residents57,374
Households23,978
Median household income$117,047
Income per person$68,914
Median age43.6
Homeowners73.2%
Median home value$477,700
Median rent$1,472
Bachelor's degree or higher65.8%
Average commute (minutes)26.2
Households with kids under 1828.3%
Moved in the past year12.3%
Below the poverty line6.1%
Broadband internet95.9%
Speak a non-English language at home6.8%

Household income

% of householdsValue
<$10K3.5%
$10–15K0.7%
$15–25K3.2%
$25–35K5.8%
$35–50K6.7%
$50–75K14.8%
$75–100K9.9%
$100–150K15.6%
$150–200K13.7%
$200K+26.2%

Age

% of all residentsValue
<109.8%
10–1913.5%
20–246.0%
25–3410.0%
35–4413.7%
45–5414.2%
55–6413.4%
65–7411.8%
75+7.7%

Tenure

% of housing unitsValue
Owned, with mortgage46.4%
Owned outright23.0%
Rented24.9%
Vacant5.6%

Type of building

% of housing unitsValue
Detached house67.7%
Townhome6.1%
2–4 units2.1%
5–19 units15.5%
20+ units7.6%
Mobile / other1.0%

Businesses in 35242

1,809 business establishments with 31,408 employees (ZIP Codes Business Patterns 2023).

EDDM carrier routes

35242 has 43 USPS carrier routes with 26,130 residential and 1,632 business mailboxes. Open the EDDM route map.

Carrier routes in 35242

35242 has 43 USPS carrier routes (5 city (C), 38 rural (R)) with 26,130 residential and 1,632 business mailboxes. Routes range from 332 homes (R095) to 1,104 homes (R044); the median route has 579 homes. The Census counted 23,978 households in 35242 (2020–2024 average); USPS counts current mailboxes, including new and vacant homes.

Homes per routeRoutes
1–2490
250–49913
500–74923
750–9995
1,000–1,4992
1,500+0

Best routes in 35242 for…

Most businesses

For B2B offers: office supplies, cleaning, IT, catering and commercial services.

  1. Route R080 — USPS business mailboxes 166, 531 homes
  2. Route R087 — USPS business mailboxes 151, 350 homes
  3. Route C001 — USPS business mailboxes 141, 465 homes
  4. Route R057 — USPS business mailboxes 134, 940 homes
  5. Route R084 — USPS business mailboxes 115, 634 homes

Select these 5 routes on the route map

Every carrier route in 35242

RouteTypeHomesBusinessesEst. median incomeEst. ownersEst. families with kidsEst. moved in past year
C001City465141$132,426———
C002City6322$100,917———
C017City3911$132,426———
C023City7334$132,426———
C069City6081$99,098———
R008Rural50525$152,737———
R013Rural4610$133,858———
R028Rural45832$36,108———
R029Rural36590$133,858———
R030Rural439108$132,708———
R034Rural99017$152,892———
R035Rural4690$132,708———
R036Rural5892$137,651———
R037Rural9812$126,322———
R042Rural4131$126,322———
R043Rural1,07498$126,284———
R044Rural1,10468$126,322———
R045Rural65719$161,856———
R051Rural6241$73,651———
R054Rural5700$160,471———
R055Rural96757$132,426———
R056Rural580109$161,856———
R057Rural940134$51,868———
R059Rural5711$126,615———
R067Rural5732$126,322———
R068Rural7761$104,948———
R069Rural70015$59,129———
R071Rural6012$125,364———
R074Rural5057$133,858———
R075Rural5798$136,646———
R076Rural5263$174,934———
R077Rural4751$125,364———
R078Rural48345$137,651———
R080Rural531166$136,646———
R081Rural67941$85,646———
R082Rural59451$136,646———
R084Rural634115$133,858———
R085Rural5530$175,354———
R086Rural4260$152,892———
R087Rural350151$161,856———
R089Rural62171$85,646———
R092Rural60637$125,364———
R095Rural3323$161,856———

Income, owners, families and movers are estimates for each route (how we estimate them); mailbox counts are current USPS figures. Open 35242 on the EDDM route map.

How route demographics are estimated

Mailbox counts come from USPS; demographics are estimates

The number of homes and businesses on each carrier route is the current USPS EDDM count. The Census Bureau does not publish figures for carrier routes, so income, homeownership, ages, families, movers and housing age on a route are EDDM2GO estimates built from Census block groups (neighborhood areas of roughly 600 to 3,000 people).

How a route gets its figures: the block-group length-share method

We trace each route's streets every 25 meters and record which block group each stretch falls in. The route's homes are spread along its streets in proportion to length, so a route with 60% of its street length in one block group is assumed to have 60% of its homes there. Each block group then contributes its Census counts in proportion to the share of its housing units that sit on the route (capped at the whole block group). Medians are recalculated from the combined income, home-value and age brackets, the way the Census Bureau computes them, not averaged.

Margins of error

Census survey figures carry a margin of error at 90% confidence; we carry it through the calculation and show it as ±. Our margins treat the route-to-block-group split as exact, so the real uncertainty is larger. Routes with fewer than 100 estimated households, large margins, or streets we could not place are flagged.

Different years

USPS mailbox counts are current. Census figures are 5-year averages for 2020–2024, so a new subdivision may have more homes on the route today than the Census counted. Use the route figures to compare routes with each other, not as an exact head count.

Why some routes show identical figures

Two routes that run through the same block group get the same percentages and medians, because the Census publishes one set of figures for the whole block group. Their mailbox counts still differ, and those are exact.

Route and mailbox counts: USPS EDDM route data. Route demographics: EDDM2GO estimates from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year block-group data (2020–2024) and 2024 cartographic block-group boundaries. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Nearby ZIP codes

Areas that include 35242

Where it ranks

Mail every home in 35242

Route counts on this page price as Full Service 6.5 × 9 postcards: we print, bundle by carrier route and hand the mailing to USPS. Prefer to take it to the Post Office yourself? Print only costs less and you pay postage at drop-off.

EDDM guides

ZIP code statistics describe the Census ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA) 35242, which approximates the USPS ZIP code area. Census figures: American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024.

Frequently asked questions

What city is 35242 in?
35242 is a Birmingham, AL mailing address. By land area, 18% lies inside Hoover, 13% lies inside Birmingham, 10% lies inside Vestavia Hills and 9% lies inside Shoal Creek; the rest is outside any Census-defined city or community.
What county is 35242 in?
35242 is mostly in Shelby County (80% of its land), with smaller parts in Jefferson County.
What is the population of 35242?
About 57,374 people (±1,783), according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates for 2020–2024. The 2020 Census counted 57,008.
What is the median household income in 35242?
$117,047 (±$6,535), compared with $63,999 for Alabama as a whole. Half the households in the ZIP code earn more and half earn less.
How many carrier routes and mailboxes are in 35242?
43 USPS carrier routes with 26,130 residential and 1,632 business mailboxes (27,762 in all), from the route data stored by EDDM2GO. An EDDM mailing can target any combination of these routes.
What ZIP codes are near 35242?
The closest, measured center to center: 35243 (4.2 mi, Vestavia Hills), 35223 (5.9 mi, Mountain Brook), 35216 (6.8 mi, Vestavia Hills), 35213 (7.1 mi, Mountain Brook), 35229 (7.6 mi, Homewood) and 35043 (7.9 mi, Chelsea).

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.