What are the schools like in Birmingham, MI?

Birmingham is served primarily by Birmingham Public Schools. The district operates 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.9:1.

What is the median household income in Birmingham?

The median household income in Birmingham, MI is $151,556 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.2%.

What is the weather like in Birmingham, MI?

Birmingham has an average high temperature of 31.3°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 36.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Birmingham, MI affordable or expensive?

Birmingham's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Birmingham is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $679,700 and the median rent is $1,803 per month.

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

Birmingham has a violent crime rate of 56.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 642.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Birmingham, MI a Good Place to Live?

Birmingham is a small city of 21,738 in Michigan, with a median household income of $151,556 and a 4.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Birmingham stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. 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: 98.0

Birmingham's overall cost of living index is 98.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Birmingham costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Birmingham, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$679,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,803	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	76.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$151,556	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Birmingham's violent crime rate is 56.3 per 100,000 residents — 85% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

56.3 /100k

Property Crime

642.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Birmingham is served primarily by Birmingham Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Birmingham, MI	National Avg
School District	Birmingham Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	8	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	77.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	99.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Birmingham sees average highs of 31.3°F in January and 82.3°F in July, with 33.9 inches of annual precipitation and 36.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Birmingham, MI
Average High — January	31.3°F
Average High — July	82.3°F
Annual Precipitation	33.9"
Annual Snowfall	36.0"

Demographics

Metric	Birmingham, MI	National Avg
Population	21,738	—
Median Age	42.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	86.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.3%	18.9%
Asian	4.7%	6.3%
Under 18	26.3%	22.2%
65 and over	17.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Beverly Hills, MI 2 mi Bloomfield Hills, MI 3 mi Clawson, MI 3 mi Berkley, MI 4 mi Bingham Farms, MI 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Birmingham

Birmingham, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

48009

Birmingham vs Other Cities

Birmingham, MI vs Beverly Hills, MI Birmingham, MI vs Bloomfield Hills, MI Birmingham, MI vs Clawson, MI Birmingham, MI vs Berkley, MI Birmingham, MI vs Bingham Farms, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Birmingham, MI affordable or expensive?

Birmingham's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Birmingham roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $679,700 and median rent is $1,803/month.

What is the crime rate in Birmingham, MI?

Birmingham's violent crime rate is 56.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 642.4 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 Public Schools. The district has 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1. 77.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Birmingham, MI a good place to live?

Birmingham, MI has a population of 21,738, a median household income of $151,556, and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. 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 31.3°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.9 inches with about 36.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Birmingham?

Birmingham, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 48009.

What is the population of Birmingham?

The population of Birmingham, Michigan is 21,738 with a median age of 42.0. 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 98 (100 = US average), median home $679,700, median household income $151,556, crime index 21 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. 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.