ZIP Code · AL

ZIP 35224

Part of McDonald Chapel, AL

Pop. 4,739·Jefferson County·88th most expensive ZIP in Alabama

Median rent (all units)

$1,198/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

-$734

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 35224 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 35224 · $1,198

More affordable than 91% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$900

1 BR

$1,010

2 BR

$1,110

3 BR

$1,390

4 BR+

$1,580

Research median

$1,110/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($42,639) is $1,066 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,010); a 2-bedroom is $1,110.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 35218, 3 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,067/mo), about $1,600 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 35224. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$14,376/yr

At $1,198/mo median

Location

CityMcDonald Chapel

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 (+0.0% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 35224 (McDonald Chapel, AL) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 9.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

4,739

Median income

$42,639

Median age

39.8

Renters

35.7%

Age distribution

24.1%

17.5%

33.1%

14.4%

Under 1824.1%

18–3417.5%

35–5433.1%

55–6411%

65+14.4%

Gender

53.3%

46.7%

Male53.3%

Female46.7%

Race & ethnicity

24%

66.1%

White24%

Black66.1%

Hispanic3.4%

Other6.6%

Education (25+)

12.4%

39.1%

38.6%

No HS diploma12.4%

HS diploma39.1%

Some college38.6%

Bachelor's+9.9%

Housing tenure

64.3%

35.7%

Owner64.3%

Renter35.7%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 35224 in McDonald Chapel, AL has changed in 5 years

Income

$45,679 → $42,639

down 6.7%

Population

5,535 → 4,739

down 14.4%

Renter share

45.6% → 35.7%

-9.9 pts

Bachelor's+

10.4% → 9.9%

-0.5 pts

Median age

39.3 → 39.8

+0.5 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 35224 in McDonald Chapel, AL now reports about $42,639, up from $45,679 in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 5,535 to 4,739 between 2021 and 2024, a 14.4% change. About 35.7% of households rent today, against 45.6% in 2021.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 35224

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 35224

About renting in ZIP 35224

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 35224 covers McDonald Chapel, AL. The median rent here is $1,198/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,010/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,110/mo.

At 34% of local median household income ($42,639/yr), ZIP 35224 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 35224?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $48,000/year (about $23/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,198/mo in ZIP 35224. The local median household income is $42,639/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.