Birmingham Metro Area, AL Local Data & Statistics

State: AL

Total population: 1,184,613 Household income: $71,498 Rent: $1,172

Overview

Total population

1,184,613

Rent

$1,172

Year built

1983

Household income

$71,498

Per capita income

$40,359

Poverty rate

13.8%

Unemployment rate

2.9%

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

45.9%

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

Total population

1,184,613

Adults over 25

810,907

Total households

465,003

Household size

2.5 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

$71,498

Per capita income

$40,359

Poverty rate

13.8%

Unemployment rate

2.9%

Rent over 30% of income

45.9%

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

Housing

Rent

$1,172

Year built

1983

Households that rent

29.2%

Households that own

70.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

6.0

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

Race

White

62.3%

Black

28.4%

Asian

1.6%

Two or more races

4.7%

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

Not Hispanic or Latino

94%

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

88.5%

Commute time to work

27 mins

Work from home

11.5%

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

28.2%

High school graduate or GED

27.7%

Some college or associate degree

10.4%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

33.7%

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 Metro Area, AL with: Alabama United States

Birmingham Metro Area

Total population1,184,613

Rent$1,172

Year built1983

Household income$71,498

Per capita income$40,359

Poverty rate13.8%

Unemployment rate2.9%

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	Metro AreaBirmingham Metro Area	StateAlabama	CountryUnited States
Total population	1,184,613	5,086,768	334,922,499
Rent	$1,172	$1,007	$1,413
Year built	1983	1986	1980
Household income	$71,498	$63,999	$80,734
Per capita income	$40,359	$36,087	$44,673
Poverty rate	13.8%	15.6%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	2.9%	3.1%	4%

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

Summary for Birmingham Metro Area, AL

Birmingham metro area is located in AL.

Rent & Income

The typical monthly rent in this metro area is $1,172, while the typical household income is $71,498. Rent in this metro area is higher than Alabama and lower than the U.S., and household income is higher than Alabama and lower than the U.S.

Housing & Affordability

This metro area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 29.2% of households. About 45.9% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a high cost burden. The poverty rate is about 13.8%, which is lower than the Alabama rate but higher than the national rate.

Education & Employment

The local unemployment rate is about 2.9%, which is lower than in both Alabama and the national rate.

Birmingham Metro Area, AL — Rent vs Household Income

Birmingham Metro Area, AL — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Birmingham Metro Area, AL (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,172 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 Metro Area, AL

Annual Household Income: $71,498

💡 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 Metro Area, AL

Estimated Rate: 13.8%

💡 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 Metro Area, AL

In Birmingham Metro Area, AL, households that rent: 135,781 (29.2%)

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

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	135,781	29.2%
Owner-Occupied	329,222	70.8%

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 Metro Area, AL

In Birmingham Metro Area, AL, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 62,328 (45.9%)

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

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	62,328	45.9%
Other renter households	73,453	54.1%
Total renter households	135,781	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 Metro Area, AL

Less than High School: 228,824 people (28.2%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 224,228 people (27.7%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 84,381 people (10.4%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 273,474 people (33.7%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 810,907

📊 Unemployment Rate in Birmingham Metro Area, AL

Estimated Rate: 2.9%

💡 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%.

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.