ZIP Code · AL

ZIP 35205

Part of Birmingham, AL

Pop. 18,858·Jefferson County·100th most expensive ZIP in Alabama

Median rent (all units)

$1,067/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.4%

Month-over-Month

+0.8%

vs US Median

-$865

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 35205 · $1,067

More affordable than 96% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$806

1 BR

$913

2 BR

$999

3 BR

$1,249

4 BR+

$1,420

Research median

$999/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

December. Asking rents in ZIP 35205 usually run 0.9% below trend in December and 0.9% above it in July, about $19 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 35205 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2017.

Past year vs. the rest of Alabama

Rent in ZIP 35205 changed +3.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 84 Alabama ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 35205 rose 30.2% while median household income rose 30.4% ($39,236 to $51,158). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 35205 is 24.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($51,158) is $1,279 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($1,130); a 1-bedroom is $1,280.

Rank in Birmingham

1st cheapest of 11 ZIP codes in Birmingham.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 35205. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$12,804/yr

At $1,067/mo median

Location

CityBirmingham

StateAL

CountyJefferson County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.4% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.4% YoY, +0.8% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 35205 (Birmingham, AL) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 58% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

18,858

Median income

$51,158

Median age

30.1

Renters

67.2%

Age distribution

56.9%

15.9%

12.8%

Under 185%

18–3456.9%

35–5415.9%

55–649.4%

65+12.8%

Gender

48.2%

51.8%

Male48.2%

Female51.8%

Race & ethnicity

62.4%

24.9%

White62.4%

Black24.9%

Hispanic4%

Asian5.3%

Other3.3%

Education (25+)

15.2%

22.1%

58%

No HS diploma4.7%

HS diploma15.2%

Some college22.1%

Bachelor's+58%

Housing tenure

32.8%

67.2%

Owner32.8%

Renter67.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 35205 in Birmingham, AL has changed in 5 years

Rent

$912 → $1,067

up 17.0%

Income

$43,277 → $51,158

up 18.2%

Population

18,709 → 18,858

up 0.8%

Renter share

70.7% → 67.2%

-3.5 pts

Bachelor's+

54.3% → 58%

+3.7 pts

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 35205 in Birmingham, AL paid around $912 a month. That figure now sits near $1,067, up 17.0% from the 2021 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $43,277 in 2021 to $51,158 more recently. The renter share has eased from 70.7% to 67.2%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 54.3% to 58% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 35205 in Birmingham, AL market of 2021.

Community

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About renting in ZIP 35205

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 35205 covers Birmingham, AL. The median rent here is $1,067/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $913/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $999/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($51,158/yr), ZIP 35205 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 35205?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $43,000/year (about $21/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,067/mo in ZIP 35205. The local median household income is $51,158/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 35205?

Rent in ZIP 35205 has risen 3.4% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2017.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 35205?

Asking rents in ZIP 35205 are usually lowest in December, about 0.9% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 0.9% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $19 a month. This pattern comes from 8 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 35205?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 35205 rose 30.2% while median household income rose 30.4%, from $39,236 to $51,158. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 35205 compare to other ZIPs in Alabama?

ZIP 35205 is one of the more affordable among Alabama ZIP codes for rent, ranking #100 of 116 at $1,067/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 35205 changed +3.4%, against a typical +3.1% across the 84 Alabama ZIP codes Zillow tracks.