ZIP Code · AL

ZIP 35214

Part of Forestdale, AL

Pop. 17,027·Jefferson County·82nd most expensive ZIP in Alabama

Median rent (all units)

$1,229/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.1%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

-$703

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 35214 · $1,229

More affordable than 90% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$890

1 BR

$1,000

2 BR

$1,100

3 BR

$1,380

4 BR+

$1,570

Research median

$1,100/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

January. Asking rents in ZIP 35214 usually run 1.2% below trend in January and 1.5% above it in August, about $33 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 35214 is 0.6% below its high of $1,236 in February 2026, at $1,229 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Alabama

Rent in ZIP 35214 changed +1.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 84 Alabama ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($56,383) is $1,410 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,380); a 4-bedroom is $1,570.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 35218, 5 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,067/mo), about $1,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 35214. 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

$14,748/yr

At $1,229/mo median

Location

CityForestdale

StateAL

CountyJefferson County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.1% YoY, +0.0% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 35214 (Forestdale, AL) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 24% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

17,027

Median income

$56,383

Median age

44.9

Renters

35.4%

Age distribution

18.4%

18.7%

24.8%

26.3%

Under 1818.4%

18–3418.7%

35–5424.8%

55–6411.8%

65+26.3%

Gender

45.5%

54.5%

Male45.5%

Female54.5%

Race & ethnicity

17.3%

77.5%

White17.3%

Black77.5%

Hispanic2.2%

Other2.8%

Education (25+)

33.5%

34%

24%

No HS diploma8.5%

HS diploma33.5%

Some college34%

Bachelor's+24%

Housing tenure

64.6%

35.4%

Owner64.6%

Renter35.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 35214 in Forestdale, AL has changed in 5 years

Rent

$925 → $1,229

up 32.9%

Income

$54,180 → $56,383

up 4.1%

Population

18,106 → 17,027

down 6.0%

Renter share

32.2% → 35.4%

+3.2 pts

Bachelor's+

26.2% → 24%

-2.2 pts

Median age

43.3 → 44.9

+1.6 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in ZIP 35214 in Forestdale, AL has shifted from $925 to $1,229, up 32.9% since 2021. Household income in the area moved from $54,180 to $56,383 across the same window, up 4.1% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show ZIP 35214 in Forestdale, AL losing about 1,079 residents over the five-year window, down 6.0% on net. The renter share has risen from 32.2% to 35.4%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 26.2% to 24% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 35214 in Forestdale, AL look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

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About renting in ZIP 35214

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 35214 covers Forestdale, AL. The median rent here is $1,229/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,000/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,100/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($56,383/yr), ZIP 35214 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 35214?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $49,000/year (about $24/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,229/mo in ZIP 35214. The local median household income is $56,383/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 35214?

Rent in ZIP 35214 has risen 1.1% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.6% below its high of $1,236 in February 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 35214?

Asking rents in ZIP 35214 are usually lowest in January, about 1.2% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 1.5% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $33 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 35214 compare to other ZIPs in Alabama?

ZIP 35214 is one of the more affordable among Alabama ZIP codes for rent, ranking #82 of 116 at $1,229/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 35214 changed +1.2%, against a typical +3.1% across the 84 Alabama ZIP codes Zillow tracks.