Birmingham, Alabama has an overall cost of living index of 91.8, which is 8.2 points below the US average of 100 — making it more affordable than most American cities. Renters pay a median of $1,107 per month, while the typical home is valued around $158,800. Households earn a median of $46,051 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Air quality is good, with an average AQI of 36. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$46,051
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$1,107
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$158,800
Median Home Value
Census ACS
91.8
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$1,024
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$1,155
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,266
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$1,583
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
91.8
Goods
94.6
Rents / Housing
71.7
Services
90.0
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $114,740 |
| Registered Nurse | $78,180 |
| Elementary Teacher | $58,910 |
| Electrician | $56,010 |
| Accountant | $82,830 |
| Plumber | $55,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $255,550 |
| Civil Engineer | $103,400 |
| Operations Manager | $144,420 |
| Market Research Analyst | $70,750 |
| Health Services Manager | $107,970 |
| Truck Driver | $55,340 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | N/A |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
198,173
Latest estimate
Median Age
35.6 yrs
Census ACS
36.0
Good0 = clean · 50 = moderate boundary · lower is better
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
42
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$1,052
Per month
Avg Home Value
$209,760
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 35005 | — | $1,036 | $126,000 |
| ZIP 35020 | — | $828 | $87,000 |
| ZIP 35022 | — | $999 | $227,400 |
| ZIP 35023 | — | $1,138 | $143,000 |
| ZIP 35061 | — | $1,219 | $172,000 |
| ZIP 35064 | — | $998 | $116,500 |
| ZIP 35068 | — | $1,104 | $182,900 |
| ZIP 35094 | — | $967 | $202,100 |
| ZIP 35117 | — | $1,152 | $195,400 |
| ZIP 35118 | — | $924 | $143,100 |
Showing top 10 of 42 tracked neighborhoods.
January Avg
44°F
July Avg
81°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Temperate · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
30.1
poor
Hospitals
9
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
87.2%
Birmingham has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 91.8. The US national average is 100, so Birmingham is 8.2 points below the national average.
The median gross rent in Birmingham is $1,107 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Birmingham is $46,051 per year.
The median home value in Birmingham is $158,800 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Birmingham has an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 36.0, which is rated "Good" by the EPA. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.
Tax data for Alabama is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
