ZIP Code · AL

ZIP 35242

Part of Birmingham, AL

Pop. 57,374·Shelby County·30th most expensive ZIP in Alabama

Median rent (all units)

$1,656/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.6%

Month-over-Month

+0.7%

vs US Median

-$276

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 35242 · $1,656

More affordable than 61% 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

$1,460

1 BR

$1,640

2 BR

$1,800

3 BR

$2,250

4 BR+

$2,560

Research median

$1,800/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 35242 usually run 1.8% below trend in January and 1.7% above it in August, about $58 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 35242 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2021.

Past year vs. the rest of Alabama

Rent in ZIP 35242 changed +2.6% 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 5 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($117,047) is $2,926 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,560).

Rank in Birmingham

10th cheapest of 11 ZIP codes in Birmingham.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 35216, 7 miles away, rents for 24% less ($1,258/mo), about $4,800 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 35242. 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

$19,872/yr

At $1,656/mo median

Location

CityBirmingham

StateAL

CountyShelby County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.6% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.6% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 35242 (Birmingham, AL) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 65.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

57,374

Median income

$117,047

Median age

43.6

Renters

26.8%

Age distribution

21.2%

18.1%

27.8%

13.3%

19.5%

Under 1821.2%

18–3418.1%

35–5427.8%

55–6413.3%

65+19.5%

Gender

48.3%

51.7%

Male48.3%

Female51.7%

Race & ethnicity

79.3%

White79.3%

Black10.3%

Hispanic3.9%

Asian3.9%

Other2.5%

Education (25+)

21.4%

65.8%

No HS diploma2.7%

HS diploma10.1%

Some college21.4%

Bachelor's+65.8%

Housing tenure

73.2%

26.8%

Owner73.2%

Renter26.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 35242 in Birmingham, AL has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,314 → $1,656

up 26.0%

Income

$107,191 → $117,047

up 9.2%

Population

57,077 → 57,374

up 0.5%

Renter share

27.2% → 26.8%

-0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

64.6% → 65.8%

+1.2 pts

Median age

42.3 → 43.6

+1.3 yrs

The median rent in ZIP 35242 in Birmingham, AL stood at $1,314 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,656, reflecting a 26.0% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $117,047 today, compared with $107,191 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 35242

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 35242 covers Birmingham, AL. The median rent here is $1,656/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,640/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,800/mo.

At 17% of local median household income ($117,047/yr), ZIP 35242 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 35242?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $66,000/year (about $32/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,656/mo in ZIP 35242. The local median household income is $117,047/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 35242?

Rent in ZIP 35242 has risen 2.6% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2021.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 35242?

Asking rents in ZIP 35242 are usually lowest in January, about 1.8% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 1.7% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $58 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 35242 compare to other ZIPs in Alabama?

ZIP 35242 is one of the pricier among Alabama ZIP codes for rent, ranking #30 of 116 at $1,656/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 35242 changed +2.6%, against a typical +3.1% across the 84 Alabama ZIP codes Zillow tracks.