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City · 198,173 residents · Jefferson County, Alabama

Birmingham , Alabama

In Birmingham, a typical home is worth $158,800 and typical rent is $1,107 a month. Compared with all of Jefferson County, the typical home value is 34% lower, typical household income is 31% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 18 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $158,800

    34% below the county

    24% below Alabama

    • Birmingham
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

  • Typical rent

    $1,107a month

    7% below the county

    10% above Alabama

    • Birmingham
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

  • Typical household income

    $46,051a year

    31% below the county

    28% below Alabama

    • Birmingham
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

  • Households that own their home

    46%

    18 points below the county

    25 points below Alabama

    • Birmingham
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$134,165
2.4% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,305 a month
2.9% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Birmingham is in Jefferson County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Jefferson County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Birmingham apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Birmingham has the 5th lowest homeownership rate of the 120 cities in Alabama with more than 5,000 people (46%).

  2. The typical home in Birmingham is worth $158,800, 34% less than in Jefferson County as a whole ($240,000).

  3. The typical household income in Birmingham is $46,051, 31% less than in Jefferson County as a whole ($66,388).

  4. Nearby, in Tarrant, the typical home value is $120,100: 24% less than in Birmingham ($158,800).

  5. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Birmingham fell 2.4%; in Alabama, it rose 1.9%.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Birmingham

What homes there are in Birmingham, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is still the most common home in Birmingham, but it weighs less than in Jefferson County: 58% against 69%.

Year built

In Birmingham, half of the homes were built before 1965; in Jefferson County, before 1975.

In Birmingham, 18% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 49% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 64% in Jefferson County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 94% of owner-occupied homes in Birmingham are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Jefferson County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Birmingham cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,375): about 69%.

With a mortgage

$1,377 a month

Jefferson County: $1,619 a month

Without a mortgage

$502 a month

Jefferson County: $533 a month

Owners with a mortgage

53%

Jefferson County: 60%

Owning costs less in Birmingham: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,377 a month; in Jefferson County, $1,619. Without one, $502.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Birmingham rose 74% since 2015–2019, more than in Jefferson County (51%).

Much as in Jefferson County, the typical rent in Birmingham rose 32% since 2015–2019.

The typical household income in Birmingham rose 23%: less than home values (+74%) and rent (+32%).

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureBirminghamJefferson CountyAlabamaUnited States
Rental vacancy 7.1%7.0%7.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy 1.7%1.2%1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room 1.9%1.6%1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.122.402.482.53
Drive alone 74%77%81%69%
Carpool 10%8%8%9%
Public transit 1%1%0%3%
Walk or bike 4%2%1%3%
Work from home 10%11%9%15%
Other means 2%1%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Open rentals in Birmingham look like those in Jefferson County: the rental vacancy rate is 7.1%.

Much as in Jefferson County, 1.9% of households in Birmingham have more than one person per room.

On average, a household in Birmingham has 2.12 people, fewer than in Jefferson County (2.40).

In Birmingham, 74% of workers drive alone to work; in Jefferson County, 77%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Birmingham?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Birmingham, worth $158,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 33% of the typical household income in Birmingham, which is $46,051 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $54,688 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Jefferson County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Birmingham. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $5,558 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,276

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$155,924
Total interest
$224,338
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,682 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,075 a month

  • Tight

    $1,075 to $1,382 a month

    Your payment · 33%

  • Hard

    more than $1,382 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Birmingham ($46,051 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,276
Principal & interest$1,056
Property tax$83
Home insurance$66
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$70

You need at least $5,558 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Birmingham and Jefferson County

Birmingham is in Jefferson County, Alabama. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Birmingham's own numbers

Typical home value
$158,800
Typical monthly rent
$1,107
Typical yearly household income
$46,051
Households that own their home
46%
Effective property tax rate
0.63%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Jefferson County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,375
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+38%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.3%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Jefferson County.

Everything about Jefferson County

Buying

Buying a home in Birmingham

A typical home in Birmingham is worth $158,800: 34% below the county and 24% below Alabama. With the typical household income in Birmingham ($46,051 a year), a typical home costs 3.4 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Birmingham 3.4 years
  • Jefferson 3.6 years
  • Alabama 3.3 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Jefferson County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Jefferson County rose 73% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Jefferson County.

Period County Alabama U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.2% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +38% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +73% +77% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Birmingham next to Jefferson County, Alabama and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Birmingham $158,800
  • Jefferson $240,000
  • Alabama $209,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Birmingham $1,107
  • Jefferson $1,193
  • Alabama $1,007
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Birmingham $46,051
  • Jefferson $66,388
  • Alabama $63,999
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Birmingham next to Jefferson County and Alabama
Measure Birmingham Jefferson County Alabama U.S.
Typical home value $158,800 $240,000 $209,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,107 $1,193 $1,007 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $46,051 $66,388 $63,999 $80,734
Households that own their home 46% 64% 70% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $997 $1,409 $788 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.63% 0.59% 0.38% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 56% 54% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Jefferson County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Birmingham

For a typical $158,800 home in Birmingham, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Birmingham's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,276a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $5,558
    Cash to close
    $10,322
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $70

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,247a month

    Down payment
    $7,940
    Cash to close
    $12,704
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $75

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,010a month

    Down payment
    $31,760
    Cash to close
    $36,524
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,157a month

    Down payment
    $23,820
    Cash to close
    $28,584
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Birmingham and for Jefferson County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Birmingham

0.63%of the home’s value each year

$997 a year for the typical owner in Birmingham.

  • Birmingham 0.63%
  • Jefferson 0.59%
  • Alabama 0.38%

What Alabama publishes Basic homestead exemption (type H-1) (Alabama Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Alabama

Flood risk in Jefferson County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Jefferson County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.3%
5,592
Of those, with NFIP insurance
13%
County Alabama U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.3% 3.2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 13% 29% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Birmingham

Typical rent in Birmingham is $1,107 a month: 7% below the county. In Birmingham, 56% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Jefferson County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,375 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $26.44 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Jefferson County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,177 $22.63 $47,080
1 bedroom $1,263 $24.29 $50,520
2 bedrooms $1,375 $26.44 $55,000
3 bedrooms $1,727 $33.21 $69,080
4 bedrooms $1,941 $37.33 $77,640

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Birmingham

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Birmingham has 15 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $920 in 35204 to $1,870 in 35249.

3 of the 15 are above the fair market rent for Jefferson County ($1,375).

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Birmingham when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Birmingham

HUD lists 90 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Birmingham. These are the largest.

  • Charles P Marks Village 7528 Georgia Rd, Birmingham 35212 500 homes, 497 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the Birmingham District · Average payment: $253 a month · Average wait: 21 months (205) 521-0679
  • Elyton Village 243 4th Ct W, Birmingham 35204 501 homes, 476 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the Birmingham District · Average payment: $323 a month · Average wait: 22 months (205) 521-0679
  • Smithfield Court 14 8th Ave N, Birmingham 35204 512 homes, 455 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the Birmingham District · Average payment: $304 a month · Average wait: 30 months (205) 521-0679
  • Rev. Dr. Morrell Todd Community 4616A Roscoe Ave, Birmingham 35212 456 homes, 455 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the Birmingham District · Average payment: $242 a month · Average wait: 19 months (205) 521-0679
  • Collegeville Center 3088 32nd Ave N, Birmingham 35207 394 homes, 390 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the Birmingham District · Average payment: $238 a month · Average wait: 21 months (205) 521-0679

See all 128 buildings in Jefferson County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Birmingham

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 6 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Jefferson County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.

A young man and a young woman look something up together on a laptop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Birmingham

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Birmingham or Jefferson County. The ones below are statewide in Alabama: they work in Birmingham the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Alabama

  • Step Up

    Statewide in Alabama

    Alabama state authority program with down payment assistance of 4% of the price (up to $10,000) as a 10-year second mortgage, alongside a 30-year fixed mortgage. Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • First Step Mortgage Revenue Bonds

    Statewide in Alabama

    Alabama state authority 30-year low-rate mortgage, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, with down payment assistance of 4% of the price, up to $10,000, as a ten-year second mortgage. Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • Affordable Income Subsidy Grant

    Statewide in Alabama

    Alabama state authority grant for closing costs with an HFA Advantage conventional loan: 1% of the loan if you earn up to 50% of the area median, or half a percent if you earn 50% to 80%. Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Grant

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Birmingham

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Birmingham, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Operation Hope- Birmingham Al

    2100 Park Pl, Birmingham · 1 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (205) 478-0557

  • Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc.

    601 19th St N, Birmingham · 1 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 5 more
    (205) 328-4292

  • United Way of Central Alabama, Inc.

    3600 8th Ave S, Birmingham · 1 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 9 more
    (205) 458-8950

Every agency in Jefferson County All counseling agencies in Alabama

Help in Spanish near Birmingham

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Birmingham

HUD’s record names them for Birmingham or Jefferson County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the Birmingham District Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (205) 521-0679
  • Jefferson County Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (205) 849-0123

4 other authorities have an office in Jefferson County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Jefferson County

These cities are also in Jefferson County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Jefferson County Housing in Alabama
See 9 more cities in Jefferson County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Birmingham, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Jefferson County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Birmingham.

All guides
A mother holds hands with her two daughters on the beach at sunset.

Questions

Housing questions about Birmingham

Short answers with the numbers for Birmingham and all of Jefferson County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Birmingham?

The typical home value in Birmingham is $158,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Jefferson County it is $240,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Birmingham?

Typical rent in Birmingham is $1,107 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Jefferson County is $1,375.

What is the FHA loan limit in Birmingham?

Birmingham uses the FHA limit for all of Jefferson County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Birmingham?

The typical homeowner in Birmingham pays $997 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.63% of the home’s value; in Jefferson County, the rate is 0.59%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Birmingham?

There are 6 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Jefferson County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).