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Living in
Irondale.
About
Life in Irondale
Irondale is a community of 13,462 people in Alabama. The median household income is $72,343, median rent runs about $1,320 per month, and median home values are around $250,000. Unemployment is low at 3%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Irondale at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.2%
Foreign-Born
6.0%
Broadband Internet
95.3%
of households
Population Growth
+0.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.0% foreign-born, most often from Other Western Africa
Who lives in Irondale: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Irondale, the largest foreign-born group is from Other Western Africa (16.5%), and 8.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.5%
of residents
65 and Older
17.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
17.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.0%
of households
Married Couples
41.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.18
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 31% above AL average
Rent, home values, and income in Irondale
In Irondale, rent runs 31% above the AL average, and home values are 22% above the AL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
40.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,223
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $285,934 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for AL
Unemployment in Irondale and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Jefferson County, which includes Irondale, is close to the AL average.
Unemployment rate
Irondale: Jefferson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Jefferson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Irondale is about 2% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Irondale 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
Commute22.3 min avg
How Irondale residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Irondale, most residents drive alone to work (81%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
- 131 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 37% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Irondale runs 37% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
206.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,270.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Irondale 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 Irondale, 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
Irondale 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 Irondale, 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
Irondale is about 2% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate90°F summers, 37°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Irondale 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
60.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
65
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
47
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
88
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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Irondale
Uninsured
12.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Irondale's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
St. Vincent's East
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.4 mi away · Birmingham
Hill Crest Behavioral Health Services
Psychiatric · 4.1 mi away · Birmingham
St Vincent's Birmingham
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.8 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.
Education17.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Irondale
Irondale's student/teacher ratio is 17.5:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 42.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
42.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Irondale (within 15 miles)
University of Alabama at Birmingham
8.4 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
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)
Lawson State Community College
14.6 mi awayPublic · 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)
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, 9 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Irondale
Irondale has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument (9 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
9 mi awayFreedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
44 mi awayHorseshoe Bend National Military Park
National Military Park
66 mi awayLittle River Canyon National Preserve
National Preserve
85 mi awaySelma To Montgomery National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
88 mi awayTuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
National Historic Site
94 mi awayTuskegee Institute National Historic Site
National Historic Site
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Irondale
Irondale Public Library
105 20th Street South, Irondale
Cities Near Irondale
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Irondale?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Irondale FAQ
Is Irondale, Alabama affordable?⌄
Irondale's median rent is $1,320/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $72,343/year. Median home value is $255,800.
Is Irondale, Alabama safe?⌄
Irondale's violent crime rate was 207 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2271 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Irondale, Alabama?⌄
Jefferson County, which includes Irondale, 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 Irondale, Alabama?⌄
The cost of living in Irondale is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,320/month and median household income is $72,343/year. The median home value is $255,800. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Irondale, Alabama?⌄
The average commute in Irondale is 22 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