Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 22 min5:37 am – 7:59 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 57 min6:46 am – 4:43 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People15,837 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 40.45,289 householdsMedian household income $121,356Median home value $366,200Median rent $1,322 a month91% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $1,417 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting3.6% unemployment rate64% of adults are in the labour force, 7,724 employedMain industries: education and health care 20%, finance, insurance and real estate 12%, professional and business services 11%Average commute 34 minutes77% drive alone, 5% car-pool, 16% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages47% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher98% finished high school, 13% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 93%, Arabic 4%, Spanish 3%3% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 92°F, lows 71°FColdest month January: highs 55°F, lows 35°F56 in of rain a year, on about 79 dayswettest month FebruarySnow is rare87 days above 90°F, 51 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Helena station, 10 mi away; snow from Leeds
Parks and public landsOak Mountain State Parkstate park · 2.3 mi · 8,857 acresTalladega National Forestnational forest · 2.8 mi · 394,709 acresChelsea Recreational Parkpark · 1.5 miForest Park and Recreational Areapark · 3.7 mi · 132 acresAdams Scenic Overlookstate conservation land · 4.6 miEbenezer Swamp Ecological Preservestate conservation land · 12.8 mi · 72 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes11 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19700 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 3.6 on 19 Aug 200419 mi away, near Brantleyville, AlabamaMost recent: magnitude 3.1 on 22 Dec 202137 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively ModerateShelby County, AL, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsTornado Relatively HighLightning Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality91% of days had good air in 2025222 of 243 days measured21 moderate daysMedian index 36, worst day 87main pollutant: ozoneSource: US EPA Air Quality Index, Shelby County monitors, AL
Internet at home97% of households have a broadband subscription87% have cable, fibre or DSL7% rely on a mobile data plan alone1% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterCity of Alabaster Water Departmentserves 40,986 people from surface water purchased1 health-based violation since 2021latest Jan 2026: trihalomethanes (TTHM), maximum contaminant level3 monitoring or reporting violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system in the county
Elevation601 ft183 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalAscension Saint Vincent's One Nineteen Hospital8.0 miPost officeChelsea Post Office3.2 miTown hallChelsea City Hall2.8 miPoliceShelby County Sheriff's Office Chelsea City Hall Substation2.7 miFire stationChelsea Fire and Rescue Station 321.1 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi1 school1 highHighChelsea High School1.9 miCollegeSamford University13.1 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportBirmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport BHM18 miInterstateI-656.9 miUS highwayUS 2802.9 miAmtrakBirmingham, AL BHM16 miCoachBirmingham Central Bus StationGreyhound16 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 35043 ZIP area.
