The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 35078 sells for about $319,000, or $148 per square foot.
Prices are up +1.3% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 55 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $842 a month.
ZIP 35078
The 35078 housing market is currently balanced, characterized by moderate price growth and limited inventory. Market activity is driven by local demand and commuters seeking affordability outside the Birmingham core, though the lack of significant new development keeps the market stable rather than aggressive.
This ZIP is best suited for families and individuals seeking a quiet, rural-suburban lifestyle with affordability, provided they are comfortable with a longer commute to major employment hubs.
Median prices moved up 1.3% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 55 days on market with 3.2 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
12% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 98.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 1.6% · poverty 7.2% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 7.2%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 6.9%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net influx — more people moved in than out
ZCTA 35078, Shelby County AL
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
Crime rates in Harpersville are generally lower than the national average, with property crime being the most frequently reported incident type.
Schools serving the area are part of the Shelby County School District, which generally maintains moderate performance ratings.
The area is subject to standard Alabama weather risks, including severe thunderstorms and occasional tornado activity; flood risk is localized to specific low-lying areas near the Coosa River.
Economic growth is driven by proximity to the Birmingham metro area and local industrial development, with steady but slow residential expansion.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Alabama) — Current Use Valuation: Allows property to be taxed based on its current use value rather than fair market value, potentially reducing the tax burden. Conversion to a non-qualified use triggers revaluation and potential back-tax liability. State (Alabama) — Class III Residential Property Tax Assessment: Property is assessed at 10% of its fair market value. The tax liability is calculated by multiplying the assessed value by the local millage rate. A standard homestead exemption applies to the 6.5 mill statewide property tax on the first $4,000 of assessed valuation. State (Alabama) — Class 3 Residential Property Tax Assessment: Residential property is classified as Class 3 and assessed at 10 percent of its fair market value. A standard homestead exemption applies to the 6.5 mill statewide property tax on the first $4,000 of assessed valuation. State (Alabama) — Standard State Ad Valorem Homestead Exemption: Exempts up to $4,000 in assessed valuation from the 6.5 mill state ad valorem tax levy (providing a maximum direct state tax reduction of $26.00). Formula: Adjusted State Tax = Max(0, (Assessed Value - $4,000)) × 0.0065. State (Alabama) — Statewide Ad Valorem Property Tax and Class III Residential Assessment Ratio: Establishes a baseline 6.5 statewide millage rate ($0.0065 per dollar of assessed value) under Ala.
Commuters primarily rely on US Highway 280 for access to the Birmingham employment core, with typical drive times ranging from 35 to 50 minutes.
The area offers access to outdoor recreation including fishing and boating on the Coosa River and nearby Lay Lake, with limited local shopping and dining options.
The rental market is limited in depth, consisting primarily of single-family homes and small multi-family units with low turnover and stable demand.
The local economy is anchored by agriculture, light manufacturing, and service-sector jobs, with many residents commuting to the Birmingham-Hoover metropolitan area.
Transportation is heavily dependent on private vehicles, with US Highway 280 serving as the primary arterial corridor for regional connectivity.
Development is focused on small-scale residential subdivisions and industrial site preparation along the Highway 280 corridor.
The Shelby County Tax Assessor manages property valuations, utilizing a mass appraisal system with periodic adjustments to reflect market value changes.
Parcels are subject to Shelby County school taxes and local municipal levies; no major MUDs or PIDs are currently active in this ZIP.
Property insurance premiums are influenced by regional wildfire and storm risk, with standard coverage widely available through major carriers.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov ZCTA 35078 profile.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
Major reservoir providing boating, fishing, and recreational access.
Local landmark hosting seasonal events and community activities.
Key-figure check: median price diverges 15.4% from the nearest retained anchor (published ten-year series (2025)) — beyond the 12.5% tolerance; an automated validation case is open and the value publishes pending its verdict. Research outlier held out — this pass returned a median of $270,000 (15.4% off the retained reading), contradicting every independent anchor; the prior reading stands pending corroboration. Validation: the flagged $270,000 (-15.4% vs the published ten-year series (2025)) could not be independently corroborated and was reverted to the prior cycle value pending review; the case is under review in the Command Center.