ZIP Code · AL

ZIP 35222

Part of Birmingham, AL

Pop. 8,361·Jefferson County·62nd most expensive ZIP in Alabama

Median rent (all units)

$1,354/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.5%

Month-over-Month

+1.6%

vs US Median

-$578

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 35222 · $1,354

More affordable than 83% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$950

1 BR

$1,070

2 BR

$1,170

3 BR

$1,460

4 BR+

$1,660

Research median

$1,170/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

Past year vs. the rest of Alabama

Rent in ZIP 35222 changed +5.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 84 Alabama ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($84,066) is $2,102 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,660).

Rank in Birmingham

6th cheapest of 11 ZIP codes in Birmingham.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 35212, 2 miles away, rents for 10% less ($1,218/mo), about $1,600 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 35222. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$16,248/yr

At $1,354/mo median

Location

CityBirmingham

StateAL

CountyJefferson County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 5.5% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.5% YoY, +1.6% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 35222 (Birmingham, AL) is majority owner-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, 61.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

8,361

Median income

$84,066

Median age

35.7

Renters

43.6%

Age distribution

17.9%

31%

27.2%

13.7%

Under 1817.9%

18–3431%

35–5427.2%

55–6410.2%

65+13.7%

Gender

47.5%

52.5%

Male47.5%

Female52.5%

Race & ethnicity

71.3%

23.3%

White71.3%

Black23.3%

Hispanic2.4%

Asian0.7%

Other2.4%

Education (25+)

13.3%

22.5%

61.3%

No HS diploma2.9%

HS diploma13.3%

Some college22.5%

Bachelor's+61.3%

Housing tenure

56.4%

43.6%

Owner56.4%

Renter43.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 35222 in Birmingham, AL has changed in 5 years

Income

$65,665 → $84,066

up 28.0%

Population

8,739 → 8,361

down 4.3%

Renter share

44.5% → 43.6%

-0.9 pts

Bachelor's+

59% → 61.3%

+2.3 pts

Median age

33.8 → 35.7

+1.9 yrs

Median household income rose from $65,665 to $84,066 between 2021 and 2024, a 28.0% shift. The population has contracted by 4.3% since 2021, moving from about 8,739 residents to roughly 8,361. College-educated residents now make up 61.3% of adults here, versus 59% in 2021.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 35222

About renting in ZIP 35222

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 35222 covers Birmingham, AL. The median rent here is $1,354/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,070/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,170/mo.

At 19% of local median household income ($84,066/yr), ZIP 35222 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 35222?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $54,000/year (about $26/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,354/mo in ZIP 35222. The local median household income is $84,066/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 35222?

Rent in ZIP 35222 has risen 5.5% over the past year.

How does ZIP 35222 compare to other ZIPs in Alabama?

ZIP 35222 is in the middle among Alabama ZIP codes for rent, ranking #62 of 116 at $1,354/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 35222 changed +5.5%, against a typical +3.1% across the 84 Alabama ZIP codes Zillow tracks.