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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Birmingham Metro

Birmingham, AL · 7 counties · 1,180,631 residents · 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 $59,161. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $167,436.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.2
US median: 38.8
Average education
31% 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
1,180,631
+12%since 2000
from 1,052,238 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
224 / sq mi
+12%since 2000
from 199 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
39.2
+9%since 2000
from 36.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
934K1.0M1.1M1.1M1.2M1990201020202024Birmingham
20241.2M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,161
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,551 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,804
+59%since 2000
from $20,642 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
39.0%
+9.9 ptssince 2009
from 29.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
13.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 13.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information11%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade10.2%
US avg: 10%
Other services8.3%
US avg: 6.6%
Wholesale trade6.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration6.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Finance & insurance6%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing3.2%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services1.9%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.1%
US avg: 1.7%
Manufacturing0.7%
US avg: 0.5%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$167,436
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $90,229 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$913
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $495 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
68.6%
−3.5 ptssince 2000
from 72.1% in 2000
31.4% rent
Afford Score
2.8
+21%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-Hispanic69%(726,196)
Black27.5%(289,082)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(18,567)
Asian0.7%(7,774)
Other0%
Diversity Score54.6%(574,184)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic60.9%(719,404)
Black28%(330,585)
Hispanic / Latino5.7%(66,972)
Asian1.6%(19,471)
Other2.3%(26,824)
Diversity Score66.6%(786,067)
Segregation Score54.6%(644,938)
Diversity Score
67
+22%since 2000
from 55 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
55
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
31.3%
+8.6 ptssince 2000
from 22.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
89.3%
+10.5 ptssince 2000
from 78.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
11.6%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 7.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.9 min
+47%since 2000
from 18.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
83.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 83.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.7%
−3.4 ptssince 2011
from 9.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
60.6%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 63.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
38.8%
−23.7 ptssince 2009
from 62.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
51.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
3.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
8.7%
−78.9 ptssince 2013
from 87.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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$72,257+22%
Home value$225,816+35%
Population1,155,653−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BIRMINGHAM VS
Fresno
Income$74,533+26%
Home value$389,401+133%
Population1,203,383same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BIRMINGHAM VS
Tucson
Income$70,315+19%
Home value$319,700+91%
Population1,074,685−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BIRMINGHAM VS
Tulsa
Income$69,648+18%
Home value$220,806+32%
Population1,069,273−11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Birmingham, AL?

Birmingham, AL has about 1,180,631 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Birmingham, AL?

The typical household in Birmingham, AL earns about $59,161 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 $167,436, and the typical rent is about $913 a month.

How educated are people in Birmingham, AL?

About 31.3% 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 13.7% 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 223,787 residents, a change of about 23 percent over that period.

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

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