CensusEasy
CITY · 2020 ACS

Birmingham

Alabama · 200,733 residents · 147.07 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Birmingham metro area
Compare
The short version

Birmingham has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $38,832. Population has fallen 17% since 2000, a loss of 42,087 residents. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $97,500. The poverty rate of 24.7% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 25% less than the Alabama median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 36.7
US median: 38.8
Average education
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
200,733
−17%since 2000
from 242,820 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,365 / sq mi
−17%since 2000
from 1,651 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
36.7
+7%since 2000
from 34.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
191K212K232K252K273K1990201020202024Birmingham
2024198K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$38,832
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,735 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,725
+64%since 2000
from $15,663 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
23.2%
+8.2 ptssince 2009
from 15.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
24.7%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 24.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12.6%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade8.3%
US avg: 10%
Other services6.9%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance5.6%
US avg: 5.5%
Public administration5.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade4.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food2.5%
US avg: 2%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$97,500
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$870
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $446 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
42.9%
−10.8 ptssince 2000
from 53.7% in 2000
57.1% rent
Afford Score
2.5
+8%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Birmingham on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic23.5%(57,096)
Black73.2%(177,709)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(3,764)
Asian0.8%(1,900)
Other0%
Diversity Score49.6%(120,554)
2020
White, non-Hispanic22.9%(45,993)
Black68.1%(136,731)
Hispanic / Latino4.6%(9,274)
Asian1.6%(3,255)
Other2%(4,033)
Diversity Score59.1%(118,723)
Diversity Score
59
+19%since 2000
from 50 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.9%
+10.4 ptssince 2000
from 18.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
87.2%
+11.7 ptssince 2000
from 75.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
11.2%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 6.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.7 min
+51%since 2000
from 14.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
77.9%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 78.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
13.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.3%
−5.3 ptssince 2011
from 13.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
59.2%
−1.6 ptssince 2011
from 60.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
35.5%
−27.6 ptssince 2009
from 63.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
Female
53.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 53.0% in 2009
Foreign born
4.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
12.6%
−70.0 ptssince 2013
from 82.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Explore

Neighborhoods in Birmingham

Five Points SouthForest ParkFountain HeightsGlen IrisJones ValleyNorth TitusvilleSouth East LakeSpring LakeTuxedoNeighborhoods in Birmingham
Drill deeper

Places similar to Birmingham

Rochester
Pop 206,108
Shreveport
Pop 175,902
Gainesville
Pop 148,671
Springfield
Pop 169,847
Places similar to Birmingham
Head to head

Compare Birmingham to nearby cities

BIRMINGHAM VS
Mountain Brook
Income$201,479+419%
Home value$916,300+840%
Population21,661−89%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BIRMINGHAM VS
Homewood
Income$94,485+143%
Home value$558,500+473%
Population28,118−86%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BIRMINGHAM VS
Vestavia Hills
Income$134,369+246%
Home value$530,000+444%
Population38,306−80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BIRMINGHAM VS
Fultondale
Income$73,575+89%
Home value$186,100+91%
Population9,307−95%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Birmingham, Alabama?

Birmingham, Alabama has about 200,733 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Birmingham, Alabama?

The typical household in Birmingham, Alabama earns about $38,832 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Birmingham, Alabama expensive?

In Birmingham, Alabama, the median home is worth about $97,500, and the typical rent is about $870 a month.

How educated are people in Birmingham, Alabama?

About 28.9% of adults age 25 and over in Birmingham, Alabama hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Birmingham, Alabama?

About 24.7% of people in Birmingham, Alabama live below the federal poverty line.

Has Birmingham, Alabama grown since 1990?

Yes, Birmingham, Alabama has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 65,119 residents, a change of about -24 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Alabama
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Birmingham with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →