Birmingham, Alabama
Among the top 2% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 20% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade B+, better than 76% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade F, better than 1% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A+, better than 98% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 35% of US places
- top 2% for airport distance
- top 4% for walkability
- bottom 1% for violent crime
Birmingham is a city in Alabama with about 200,000 residents. It grades A+ for getting around and F for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include airport distance, walkability, and sunny days. It rates lower on property crime and violent crime.
Official websitebirminghamal.gov (opens in new tab)
Climate
Hot, humid summers · Cool winters · Wet
cold
cool
comfortable
warm
hot
warm
cool
79%57%clearovercast
Precipitation 5.3 in4.0 in
muggy 88%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$42k16th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$49kbetter than 37% of US places
Home Value$123k35th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$995better than 41% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 56% of US places
Property Tax Rate0.70%better than 72% of US places
Income Tax6.00%better than 27% of US places
State 5.00% + Local 1.00%
Sales Tax9.29%better than 8% of US places
Estimated total tax burden11.10%better than 35% of US places
Unemployment7.5%better than 22% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)44°F79th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)81°F79th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation58.3 in94th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall1.4 inbetter than 77% of US places
Sunny Days264 daysbetter than 82% of US places
Summer Humidity71°Fbetter than 10% of US places
Comfortable Days85 daysbetter than 58% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk72.4better than 39% of US places
Air Quality56 AQIbetter than 3% of US places
School Quality54.3better than 43% of US places
Violent Crime3419/100kbetter than 1% of US places
Property Crime4245/100kbetter than 2% of US places
Community
Population200,431100th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age35.926th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.4780th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.8929th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+1318th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)23.4%8th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)68.4%98th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)4.0%52nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)1.5%76th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)2.7%48th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time22 minbetter than 77% of US places
Walkability13.7/20better than 96% of US places
Airport Distance6 mibetter than 98% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access81.4%better than 34% of US places
Amenities Nearby11.97better than 16% of US places
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 80% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Birmingham an affordable place to live?
- Birmingham is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $49k, better than 37% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Birmingham?
- The median home value in Birmingham is $123k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Birmingham?
- Median household income in Birmingham is $42k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Birmingham?
- Median gross rent in Birmingham is $995 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Birmingham safe?
- Birmingham is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 3419/100k (better than 1%). Property crime is 4245/100k.
- What is the weather like in Birmingham?
- Birmingham averages 81°F in July and 44°F in January, with 58.3 in of annual precipitation and about 264 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Birmingham?
- Public-school quality in Birmingham is about average, scoring better than 43% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Birmingham?
- The average one-way commute in Birmingham is 22 min.
Other places in Jefferson County
Places near Birmingham
Compare Birmingham
Explore Alabama
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)