ZIP Code · AL

ZIP 35206

Part of Birmingham, AL

Pop. 15,621·Jefferson County·98th most expensive ZIP in Alabama

Median rent (all units)

$1,108/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.6%

Month-over-Month

+0.9%

vs US Median

-$824

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 35206 · $1,108

More affordable than 95% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$930

1 BR

$1,050

2 BR

$1,150

3 BR

$1,440

4 BR+

$1,640

Research median

$1,150/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

September. Asking rents in ZIP 35206 usually run 0.8% below trend in September and 0.7% above it in June, about $17 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 35206 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2017.

Past year vs. the rest of Alabama

Rent in ZIP 35206 changed +5.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 84 Alabama ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 35206 is 63.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($42,549) is $1,064 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,050); a 2-bedroom is $1,150.

Rank in Birmingham

3rd cheapest of 11 ZIP codes in Birmingham.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 35206. 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

$13,296/yr

At $1,108/mo median

Location

CityBirmingham

StateAL

CountyJefferson County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 5.6% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.6% YoY, +0.9% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 35206 (Birmingham, AL) is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 21.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

15,621

Median income

$42,549

Median age

42.6

Renters

51.1%

Age distribution

18%

23.5%

25.8%

15.3%

17.5%

Under 1818%

18–3423.5%

35–5425.8%

55–6415.3%

65+17.5%

Gender

49.3%

50.7%

Male49.3%

Female50.7%

Race & ethnicity

22.1%

71.1%

White22.1%

Black71.1%

Hispanic5%

Asian0.5%

Other1.3%

Education (25+)

12.2%

33.5%

32.8%

21.5%

No HS diploma12.2%

HS diploma33.5%

Some college32.8%

Bachelor's+21.5%

Housing tenure

48.9%

51.1%

Owner48.9%

Renter51.1%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 35206 in Birmingham, AL has changed in 5 years

Rent

$756 → $1,108

up 46.6%

Income

$33,366 → $42,549

up 27.5%

Population

16,447 → 15,621

down 5.0%

Renter share

52.2% → 51.1%

-1.1 pts

Bachelor's+

15% → 21.5%

+6.5 pts

Median age

41.1 → 42.6

+1.5 yrs

The median rent in ZIP 35206 in Birmingham, AL stood at $756 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,108, reflecting a 46.6% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $33,366 to $42,549 across the same window, up 27.5% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 5.0% since 2021, moving from about 16,447 residents to roughly 15,621. College-educated residents now make up 21.5% of adults here, versus 15% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 35206 in Birmingham, AL look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 35206

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 35206 covers Birmingham, AL. The median rent here is $1,108/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,050/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,150/mo.

At 31% of local median household income ($42,549/yr), ZIP 35206 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 35206?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $44,000/year (about $21/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,108/mo in ZIP 35206. The local median household income is $42,549/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 35206?

Rent in ZIP 35206 has risen 5.6% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2017.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 35206?

Asking rents in ZIP 35206 are usually lowest in September, about 0.8% below their yearly trend, and highest in June, about 0.7% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $17 a month. This pattern comes from 8 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 35206 compare to other ZIPs in Alabama?

ZIP 35206 is one of the more affordable among Alabama ZIP codes for rent, ranking #98 of 116 at $1,108/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 35206 changed +5.6%, against a typical +3.1% across the 84 Alabama ZIP codes Zillow tracks.