Moving to Birmingham
What you need to know before relocating to Birmingham, Alabama. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.
Is Birmingham a Good Place to Live?
Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Birmingham compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($1,153/mo) is below the national average; home prices ($247,900) are well below the us median; low unemployment rate (2.3%) signals a strong job market.
Birmingham at a Glance
Cost of Living in Birmingham
The median rent in Birmingham is $1,153/month, while the median home value is $247,900. With a median household income of $69,284, residents spend roughly 20% of monthly income on rent.
Overall, the Birmingham metro area is classified as affordable compared to other US metros.
Job Market
Birmingham has a median household income of $69,284, which is 7% below the national median. The local unemployment rate is 2.3%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.
Safety in Birmingham
The violent crime rate in Birmingham is 404 per 100,000 residents, which is 6% above the national average of 380.
Property crime rate: 1699 per 100,000 residents.
Education in Alabama
Alabama has a high school graduation rate of 89% and per-pupil spending of $13,461/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1.
30% of Alabama adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Healthcare Access
Alabama has 224 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 9.2% uninsured rate, and 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Alabama is 74.8 years.
Pros and Cons of Living in Birmingham
+Pros
- ✓Rent ($1,153/mo) is below the national average
- ✓Home prices ($247,900) are well below the US median
- ✓Low unemployment rate (2.3%) signals a strong job market
-Cons
- ✗Longer-than-average commute (491303 min)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Birmingham a good place to live?⌄
Birmingham, Alabama has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($1,153/mo) is below the national average and home prices ($247,900) are well below the us median. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.
What is the cost of living in Birmingham?⌄
The median rent in Birmingham is $1,153/month and the median home value is $247,900. The median household income is $69,284. Overall the metro is considered affordable.
Is Birmingham safe?⌄
Birmingham has a violent crime rate of 404 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.
What is the job market like in Birmingham?⌄
Birmingham has an unemployment rate of 2.3%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $69,284.