What it's like to live in Homewood
Homewood is a small city in Alabama with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Homewood deals with home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and above-average rainfall.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
The not so good
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- High rent burden for renters
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Homewood compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Homewood
Based on Homewood's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,926
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $58,520 a year
- 52% of Homewood renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$111,700
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $55,850
- Homes cost 5.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,463/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,463 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are steep, with a median around $558,500. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $558,500 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 51% below US
2.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 2.1%, well below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 49% below US
168 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1761/100k · Homewood Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 34% below US
17 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 17.1 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 90°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 37°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 97% above US
71% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument (4 miles away). There are 7 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Homewood's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,463/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Homewood
All Alabama guides →Moving to Vestavia Hills →
4 mi away · pop. 38,616
Rent $1,515/mo · Income $134,369
Compare with Homewood →Moving to Mountain Brook →
4 mi away · pop. 22,029
Rent $1,456/mo · Income $201,479
Compare with Homewood →Not sure Homewood is the one?
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