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Living in
Gardendale.
About
Life in Gardendale
Living in Gardendale means settling into a stable, growing northern suburb of Birmingham where you're getting real value for your money. The median home price sits around $253,000 with a median household income of $82,192, which translates to a comfortable cost of living for a family or someone looking to build equity without the strain you'd face in bigger metros. The job market is solid with just 3% unemployment, though your actual career options will largely depend on what Birmingham's economy offers since Gardendale itself is primarily residential—you're looking at roughly a 25-minute commute for most people heading into the city for work.
Gardendale at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.3%
Foreign-Born
0.8%
Broadband Internet
94.5%
of households
Population Growth
0.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics0.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Gardendale: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Gardendale, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (41.2%), and 1.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.9%
of residents
65 and Older
17.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.9%
of households
Married Couples
45.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.48
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 29% above AL average
Rent, home values, and income in Gardendale
In Gardendale, rent runs 29% above the AL average, and home values are 20% above the AL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
10.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,277
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
78.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1988
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $268,381 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for AL
Unemployment in Gardendale and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Jefferson County, which includes Gardendale, is close to the AL average.
Unemployment rate
Gardendale: Jefferson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Jefferson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Gardendale is about 2% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Gardendale 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
Commute26.2 min avg
How Gardendale residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Gardendale, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 67% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 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 41% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Gardendale runs 41% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
194.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,397.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Gardendale 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 Gardendale, 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
Gardendale is about 2% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jefferson County, which includes Gardendale, 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
Gardendale is about 2% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate89°F summers, 33°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Gardendale has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and mild winters (avg low 33°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
74°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
75°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
56°/33°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
57.0"
Annual Snowfall
1.4"
Hot Days/Year
64
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
72
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
106
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°F | 31°F | 5.11" |
| Feb | 58°F | 34°F | 5.39" |
| Mar | 67°F | 41°F | 5.71" |
| Apr | 75°F | 48°F | 5.04" |
| May | 82°F | 56°F | 4.77" |
| Jun | 88°F | 65°F | 4.58" |
| Jul | 90°F | 68°F | 4.98" |
| Aug | 90°F | 68°F | 4.45" |
| Sep | 85°F | 61°F | 3.96" |
| Oct | 75°F | 50°F | 3.28" |
| Nov | 64°F | 39°F | 4.64" |
| Dec | 56°F | 34°F | 5.11" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Gardendale
Uninsured
6.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Gardendale's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Hill Crest Behavioral Health Services
Psychiatric · 9.3 mi away · Birmingham
St. Vincent's East
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.6 mi away · Birmingham
St Vincent's Birmingham
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11 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.
Education19.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Gardendale
Gardendale's student/teacher ratio is 19.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 31.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
31.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Gardendale (within 15 miles)
University of Alabama at Birmingham
11.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,635 students · in-state tuition $9,812 · 58% graduate · median earnings $59,631 (10 yrs after entry)
Jefferson State Community College
5.8 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 5,470 students · in-state tuition $5,520 · 22% graduate · median earnings $43,674 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,206 students · in-state tuition $41,910 · 78% graduate · median earnings $66,982 (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)
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, 11 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Gardendale
Gardendale has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument (11 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
11 mi awayFreedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
52 mi awayHorseshoe Bend National Military Park
National Military Park
78 mi awayLittle River Canyon National Preserve
National Preserve
85 mi awaySelma To Montgomery National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
97 mi awayPublic Libraries in Gardendale
Gardendale - Martha Moore Public Library
995 Mt. Olive Road, Gardendale
Cities Near Gardendale
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Gardendale?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Gardendale FAQ
Is Gardendale, Alabama affordable?⌄
Gardendale's median rent is $1,299/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $82,192/year. Median home value is $252,600.
Is Gardendale, Alabama safe?⌄
Gardendale's violent crime rate was 194 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1398 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Gardendale, Alabama?⌄
Jefferson County, which includes Gardendale, has an unemployment rate of 2.9%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Gardendale, Alabama?⌄
The cost of living in Gardendale is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,299/month and median household income is $82,192/year. The median home value is $252,600. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Gardendale, Alabama?⌄
The average commute in Gardendale is 26 minutes, which is about 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