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Living in
Birmingham.
About
Life in Birmingham
Living here means trading big-city intensity for a place where you can actually afford a house while still accessing real job opportunities—the median home value hovers around $158,800, and rent runs roughly $1,107 a month, which is genuinely reasonable for a city that serves as a major regional hub for banking, healthcare, and manufacturing. The job market itself is stable and diversified: UAB is the area's largest employer with nearly 19,000 workers, Regions Financial anchors a robust banking sector, and steel production, construction, and telecommunications round out a genuinely non-tourism-dependent economy, so you're not betting your career on seasonal work or a single industry. The city itself sits in Jones Valley, flanked by the tail-end ridges of the Appalachians, which means you get real outdoor access—Ruffner Mountain Nature Center is one of the largest urban nature reserves in the country, and weekends can include easy trips to the Cahaba River basin (genuinely one of the most diverse river ecosystems in the US) or drives out to places like Horseshoe Bend Military Park in under 90 minutes.
Birmingham at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
24.7%
Foreign-Born
4.7%
Broadband Internet
87.0%
of households
Population Growth
-2.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Birmingham: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Birmingham, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (30.8%), and 4.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.9%
of residents
65 and Older
16.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
44.8%
of households
Married Couples
21.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.12
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 10% above AL average
Rent, home values, and income in Birmingham
In Birmingham, rent runs 10% above the AL average, and home values are 24% below the AL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$997
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
45.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1965
median year built
Vacant Homes
18.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $134,165 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts above AL average
Unemployment in Birmingham and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Birmingham is 0.6 percentage points higher than the AL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Birmingham Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Birmingham-Hoover, AL metro area
Commute20.8 min avg
How Birmingham residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Birmingham, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
- 137 mi
Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Major hub51.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 276% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Birmingham runs 276% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,238.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
4,465.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Birmingham Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 28 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Jefferson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Jefferson County, which includes Birmingham, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 28 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3,000 |
| 2023 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5.0M |
| 2022 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 25 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2020 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Jefferson County, county-wide
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jefferson County, which includes Birmingham, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
52
Good Days
159
per year
Moderate Days
204
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Jefferson County, county-wide
Climate90°F summers, 37°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Birmingham has warm summers (avg high 90°F) and mild winters (avg low 37°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
75°/53°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
90°/71°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
76°/54°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
57°/37°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
58.2"
Annual Snowfall
1.4"
Hot Days/Year
65
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
47
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
118
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55°F | 35°F | 5.03" |
| Feb | 59°F | 38°F | 4.95" |
| Mar | 67°F | 45°F | 5.66" |
| Apr | 75°F | 52°F | 5.08" |
| May | 82°F | 61°F | 4.91" |
| Jun | 88°F | 69°F | 4.78" |
| Jul | 91°F | 72°F | 5.42" |
| Aug | 91°F | 71°F | 4.35" |
| Sep | 86°F | 65°F | 4.00" |
| Oct | 76°F | 54°F | 3.34" |
| Nov | 65°F | 43°F | 4.23" |
| Dec | 57°F | 38°F | 4.87" |
Healthcare8 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Birmingham
Birmingham has 8 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
8
within city limits
Uninsured
12.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Birmingham VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
St. Vincent's East
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
St Vincent's Birmingham
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Princeton Baptist Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.6 mi away · Birmingham
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education18.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Birmingham
Birmingham's student/teacher ratio is 18.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 31.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
52
within city limits
Private Schools
27
within city limits
College Degree Rate
31.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Public · 4-year · 11,635 students · in-state tuition $9,812 · 58% graduate · median earnings $59,631 (10 yrs after entry)
Jefferson State Community College
Public · 2-year · 5,470 students · in-state tuition $5,520 · 22% graduate · median earnings $43,674 (10 yrs after entry)
Lawson State Community College
Public · 2-year · 2,900 students · in-state tuition $5,215 · 26% graduate · median earnings $36,457 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 1,196 students · in-state tuition $13,920 · 13% graduate · median earnings $44,016 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,206 students · in-state tuition $41,910 · 78% graduate · median earnings $66,982 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 442 students · in-state tuition $13,820 · 42% graduate · median earnings $44,255 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, 1 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Birmingham
Birmingham has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument (1 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
1 mi awayFreedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
52 mi awayHorseshoe Bend National Military Park
National Military Park
72 mi awaySelma To Montgomery National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
87 mi awayLittle River Canyon National Preserve
National Preserve
91 mi awayTuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
National Historic Site
98 mi awayTuskegee Institute National Historic Site
National Historic Site
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Birmingham
Birmingham Public - Central Branch
2100 Park Place, Birmingham
Jefferson County Library Cooperative
2100 Park Place, Birmingham
Birmingham Public - Avondale Regional Library
509 40th Street South, Birmingham
Birmingham Public - East Ensley Branch
900 14th Street - Ensley, Birmingham
Birmingham Public - East Lake Branch
5 Oporto-Madrid Blvd. South, Birmingham
Birmingham Public - Ensley Branch
1201 25th Street, Ensley, Birmingham
Birmingham Public - Five Points West Branch
4812 Avenue W, Birmingham
Birmingham Public - Inglenook Branch
4100 40th Terrace North, Birmingham
Birmingham Public - North Avondale Branch
501 43rd Street North, Birmingham
Birmingham Public - North Birmingham Regional Branch
2501 31st Avenue North, Birmingham
Birmingham Public - Powderly Branch
3301 Jefferson Avenue Sw, Birmingham
Birmingham Public - Pratt City Branch
1100 Hibernian Street, Birmingham
Cities Near Birmingham
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Birmingham?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Birmingham FAQ
Is Birmingham, Alabama affordable?⌄
Birmingham's median rent is $1,107/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $46,051/year. Median home value is $158,800.
Is Birmingham, Alabama safe?⌄
Birmingham's violent crime rate was 1239 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 4466 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Birmingham, Alabama?⌄
Birmingham has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Birmingham, Alabama?⌄
The cost of living in Birmingham is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,107/month and median household income is $46,051/year. The median home value is $158,800. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Birmingham, Alabama?⌄
The average commute in Birmingham is 21 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from