CensusEasy
METRO AREA

Birmingham Metro

Birmingham, AL · 7 counties · 1,197,766 residents (2025 est.) · 5,279.779 sq mi
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The short version

Birmingham has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $72,464. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $241,872. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.9
US median: 38.9
Average education
34% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 47%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,184,613
+13%since 2000
from 1,052,238 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
224 / sq mi
+13%since 2000
from 199 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.9
+8%since 2000
from 36.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,197,766 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
934K1.0M1.1M1.1M1.2M1990201020202024Birmingham
20241.2M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$72,464
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,551 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$40,359
+96%since 2000
from $20,642 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
48.1%
+19.0 ptssince 2009
from 29.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 13.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.474
+1%since 2010
from 0.467 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services8.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration6.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical4.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing0.6%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$241,872
+47%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $90,229 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,159
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $495 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
71.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2000
from 72.1% in 2000
28.9% rent
Vacancy rate
11.5%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.2%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 24.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.2%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 40.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.3
+43%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
54
RELATED:See current rent listings in Birmingham on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic69%(726,196)
Black27.5%(289,082)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(18,567)
Asian0.7%(7,774)
Other0%
Diversity Score54.6%(574,184)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic60.9%(721,774)
Black28.3%(334,920)
Hispanic / Latino6%(70,807)
Asian1.6%(18,492)
Other3.3%(38,620)
Diversity Score68%(805,465)
Segregation Score51.5%(610,434)
Diversity Score
68
+25%since 2000
from 55 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
52
−6%since 2020
from 55 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
33.8%
+11.0 ptssince 2000
from 22.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.4%
+11.6 ptssince 2000
from 78.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.1%
+5.2 ptssince 2000
from 7.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.0 min
+48%since 2000
from 18.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.1%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 83.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.0%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.3%
+8.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.3%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.5%
−4.6 ptssince 2011
from 9.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.2%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 63.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
41.3%
−21.2 ptssince 2009
from 62.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
51.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
4.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.9%
−41.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2012
from 14.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.7%
−78.9 ptssince 2013
from 87.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.3%
+17.1 ptssince 2017
from 73.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.8%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 94.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 3.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

BirminghamCENTRAL195,893
What's inside

7 component counties

Jefferson CountyCENTRAL665,742Shelby CountyCENTRAL238,552St. Clair CountyCENTRAL98,206Walker County65,140Blount County60,156Chilton County47,708Bibb County22,262
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Birmingham

Buffalo
Pop 1,155,653
Fresno
Pop 1,203,383
Tucson
Pop 1,074,685
Tulsa
Pop 1,069,273
Places similar to Birmingham
Head to head

Compare Birmingham side by side

BIRMINGHAM VS
Buffalo
Income$72,257same
Home value$225,816−7%
Population1,155,653−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BIRMINGHAM VS
Fresno
Income$74,533+3%
Home value$389,401+61%
Population1,203,383same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BIRMINGHAM VS
Tucson
Income$70,315−3%
Home value$319,700+32%
Population1,074,685−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BIRMINGHAM VS
Tulsa
Income$69,648−4%
Home value$220,806−9%
Population1,069,273−11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Birmingham, AL?

Birmingham, AL has about 1,184,613 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Birmingham, AL?

The typical household in Birmingham, AL earns about $72,464 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Birmingham, AL expensive?

In Birmingham, AL, the median home is worth about $241,872, and the typical rent is about $1,159 a month.

How educated are people in Birmingham, AL?

About 33.8% of adults age 25 and over in Birmingham, AL hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Birmingham, AL?

About 13.8% of people in Birmingham, AL live below the federal poverty line.

Has Birmingham, AL grown since 1990?

Yes, Birmingham, AL has grown since 1990. The population has added about 227,769 residents, a change of about 24 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →