Birmingham, AL Local Data & Statistics

State: AL

Total population: 198,173 Household income: $46,051 Rent: $1,107

Overview

Total population

198,173

Rent

$1,107

Year built

1965

Household income

$46,051

Per capita income

$32,216

Poverty rate

24.7%

Unemployment rate

3.9%

Household size

2.1 persons

Rent over 30% of income

51.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Alabama

Total population

198,173

Adults over 25

136,711

Total households

88,788

Household size

2.1 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$46,051

Per capita income

$32,216

Poverty rate

24.7%

Unemployment rate

3.9%

Rent over 30% of income

51.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,107

Year built

1965

Households that rent

54.5%

Households that own

45.5%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.2

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

24.8%

Black

66.9%

Asian

1.4%

Two or more races

4.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

4.8%

Not Hispanic or Latino

95.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

90.1%

Commute time to work

21 mins

Work from home

9.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

31%

High school graduate or GED

28.3%

Some college or associate degree

9.6%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

31.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Birmingham, AL with: Alabama United States

Birmingham, AL

Total population198,173

Rent$1,107

Year built1965

Household income$46,051

Per capita income$32,216

Poverty rate24.7%

Unemployment rate3.9%

Alabama State

Total population5,086,768

Rent$1,007

Year built1986

Household income$63,999

Per capita income$36,087

Poverty rate15.6%

Unemployment rate3.1%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityBirmingham, AL	StateAlabama	CountryUnited States
Total population	198,173	5,086,768	334,922,499
Rent	$1,107	$1,007	$1,413
Year built	1965	1986	1980
Household income	$46,051	$63,999	$80,734
Per capita income	$32,216	$36,087	$44,673
Poverty rate	24.7%	15.6%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.9%	3.1%	4%

View the complete comparison of Birmingham, AL, Alabama and United States →

Summary for Birmingham, AL

Birmingham is located in Alabama.

Rent & Income

In Birmingham, the typical monthly rent is $1,107 and the typical household income is $46,051. Rent here is higher than Alabama and lower than the U.S., and household income is lower than both Alabama and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 24.7%, which is higher than in both Alabama and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 54.5% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 51.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 31.1% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.9%, which is higher than Alabama and similar to the national rate.

Birmingham, AL — Rent vs Household Income

Birmingham, AL — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Birmingham, AL compares in Alabama (10 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,107	7 / 10	from lower rent	$896 – $1,457
Household income	$46,051	10 / 10	from higher income	$46,051 – $134,655
Poverty rate	24.7%	8 / 10	from lower poverty	4.3% – 25.4%
Unemployment rate	3.9%	9 / 10	from lower unemployment	2.4% – 4.4%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Alabama with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Birmingham, AL

Rent

Rent prices put Birmingham in 7th place among 10 large communities in Alabama. Across Alabama, rents range from $896 in Decatur, AL up to $1,457 in Hoover, AL.

Household income

Looking at household income, Birmingham places 10th out of 10 significant areas. Incomes across Alabama range between $46,051 in Birmingham, AL and $134,655 in Madison, AL.

Poverty rate

In poverty comparisons, Birmingham ranks 8th out of 10 large places. Statewide rates vary from 4.3% in Madison, AL to 25.4% in Auburn, AL.

Unemployment rate

For unemployment, Birmingham ranks 9th out of 10 large places. Across Alabama, unemployment ranges from 2.4% in Madison, AL to 4.4% in Mobile, AL.

💰 Rent in Birmingham, AL (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,107 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Birmingham, AL

Annual Household Income: $46,051

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Birmingham, AL

Estimated Rate: 24.7%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Birmingham, AL

In Birmingham, AL, households that rent: 48,386 (54.5%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	48,386	54.5%
Owner-Occupied	40,402	45.5%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Birmingham, AL

In Birmingham, AL, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 24,960 (51.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	24,960	51.6%
Other renter households	23,426	48.4%
Total renter households	48,386	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Birmingham, AL

Less than High School: 42,352 people (31%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 38,744 people (28.3%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 13,138 people (9.6%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 42,477 people (31.1%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 136,711

📊 Unemployment Rate in Birmingham, AL

Estimated Rate: 3.9%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Montgomery, AL198,440 Grand Prairie, TX198,564 Grand Rapids, MI197,768 Sioux Falls, SD197,642 Overland Park, KS197,199 Tallahassee, FL199,696 Huntington Beach, CA196,010 Amarillo, TX200,945 Oxnard, CA201,014 Peoria, AZ194,338

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.