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Alabama city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Birmingham?

What it costs to live in Birmingham, and how it compares with other Alabama cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

42

33rd best value in Alabama

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Alabama cities.

Overall livability

38

33rd overall in Alabama

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Birmingham is home to about 202,234 people. A typical home runs $102,900 and a household earns around $39,400, a price-to-income ratio of 2.6. Among Alabama's largest cities, it ranks 33rd for value and 33rd overall.

Birmingham at a glance

Median home price

$102,900

14th in AL of 47

Median rent

$906/mo

Median household income

$39,400

Home price to income

2.6x

Unemployment

8.0%

38th in AL of 47

School rating

2/10

34th in AL of 47

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in AL of 47

Walk score

24/100

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‹ See all top Alabama cities ranked  ยท  Alabama state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Alabama only. Updated 2026.