What are the schools like in Birmingham, AL?

Birmingham is served primarily by Birmingham City. The district operates 29 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, and 9 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 19.2:1.

What is the median household income in Birmingham?

The median household income in Birmingham, AL is $42,464 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.5%.

What is the weather like in Birmingham, AL?

Birmingham has an average high temperature of 54.5°F in January and 91.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 58.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.4 inches.

Birmingham, AL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Birmingham, AL affordable or expensive?

Birmingham's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Birmingham is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $123,000 and the median rent is $995 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Birmingham, AL?

Birmingham has a violent crime rate of 1246.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 4031.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Birmingham, AL a Good Place to Live?

Birmingham is a mid-sized city of 200,431 in Alabama, with a median household income of $42,464 and a 7.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Birmingham stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Birmingham is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Birmingham city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.6

Birmingham's overall cost of living index is 92.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Birmingham costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Birmingham, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$123,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$995	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	45.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$42,464	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Birmingham's violent crime rate is 1246.6 per 100,000 residents — 228% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

1246.6 /100k

Property Crime

4031.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Birmingham is served primarily by Birmingham City. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.2:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Birmingham, AL	National Avg
School District	Birmingham City	—
Elementary Schools	29	—
Middle Schools	9	—
High Schools	9	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	19.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	29.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Birmingham sees average highs of 54.5°F in January and 91.0°F in July, with 58.1 inches of annual precipitation and 1.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Birmingham, AL
Average High — January	54.5°F
Average High — July	91.0°F
Annual Precipitation	58.1"
Annual Snowfall	1.4"

Demographics

Metric	Birmingham, AL	National Avg
Population	200,431	—
Median Age	35.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	24.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	68.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.2%	18.9%
Asian	1.5%	6.3%
Under 18	19.5%	22.2%
65 and over	16.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Mountain Brook, AL 4 mi Homewood, AL 5 mi Tarrant, AL 5 mi Vestavia Hills, AL 6 mi Fultondale, AL 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Birmingham

Birmingham, AL is covered by 21 ZIP codes:

35211 35206 35214 35215 35207 35212 35235 35224 35204 35222 35205 35208 35130 35234 35218 35221 35203 35233 35061 35254 35249

Birmingham vs Other Cities

Birmingham, AL vs Mountain Brook, AL Birmingham, AL vs Homewood, AL Birmingham, AL vs Tarrant, AL Birmingham, AL vs Vestavia Hills, AL Birmingham, AL vs Fultondale, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Birmingham, AL affordable or expensive?

Birmingham's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Birmingham roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $123,000 and median rent is $995/month.

What is the crime rate in Birmingham, AL?

Birmingham's violent crime rate is 1246.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4031.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Birmingham?

Public schools in Birmingham are operated by Birmingham City. The district has 29 elementary, 9 middle, and 9 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.2:1. 29.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Birmingham, AL a good place to live?

Birmingham, AL has a population of 200,431, a median household income of $42,464, and an unemployment rate of 7.5%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Birmingham?

Birmingham averages 54.5°F in January and 91.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.1 inches with about 1.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Birmingham?

Birmingham, AL is covered by 21 ZIP codes: 35211, 35206, 35214, 35215, 35207, 35212, 35235, 35224, 35204, 35222, 35205, 35208, 35130, 35234, 35218, 35221, 35203, 35233, 35061, 35254, 35249.

What is the population of Birmingham?

The population of Birmingham, Alabama is 200,431 with a median age of 35.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Birmingham?

Key numbers for living in Birmingham: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $123,000, median household income $42,464, crime index 274 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Birmingham side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.