Evaluated against its own citywide benchmarks, Birmingham presents a mixed picture of affordability. The 2024 ACS median household income stands at $46,051, while the median owner-occupied home value is $158,800 and median gross rent is $1,107 per month. However, citywide figures provide only broad averages and do not capture localized costs or individual financial situations. Additionally, non-housing expenses involve a model assumption of $1,250 per month, and state individual income tax is deliberately excluded due to a lack of an approved official state reference.
Birmingham at a glance
What the default budget models
A one-person renting household begins with a modeled annual core-cost baseline of $28,284. It combines the ACS median gross-rent estimate with a uniform $1,250 monthly non-housing baseline. State income tax is excluded until a current official reference is approved; the calculator labels that limitation instead of guessing.
| 2024 ACS population estimate | 198,173 |
| 2024 ACS median household income | $46,051 |
| 2024 ACS median gross rent | $1,107 |
| 2024 ACS median owner-occupied home value | $158,800 |
| Derived one-way commute estimate | 23 minutes |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded — official reference pending |
| Rent-to-income reference | 29% |
The trade-off
Relative strength: A median owner-occupied home value of $158,800.. Watch closely: lower median home values pair with a modest median household income of $46,051..
Compare Birmingham
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Birmingham according to the 2024 ACS?
Based on the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates (Table B19013), the median household income in Birmingham, Alabama is $46,051. This figure serves as a citywide economic baseline, though it does not reflect specific neighborhood variations.
What are the typical housing costs based on the 2024 ACS data?
The 2024 ACS 5-year estimates report a median owner-occupied home value of $158,800 (Table B25077) and a median gross rent of $1,107 per month (Table B25064). Note that ACS gross rent is not a live asking rent.
Source ledger
Every production input below is retained with its publisher and dataset. The ACS figures are five-year estimates, not live listings or guarantees.
- PopulationU.S. Census Bureau · 2024 ACS 5-Year B01003
- Median household incomeU.S. Census Bureau · 2024 ACS 5-Year B19013
- Median gross rentU.S. Census Bureau · 2024 ACS 5-Year B25064
- Median owner-occupied home valueU.S. Census Bureau · 2024 ACS 5-Year B25077
- Commute-time distributionU.S. Census Bureau · 2024 ACS 5-Year B08303
Interpretation: The ACS 2024 five-year estimates generally summarize observations across 2020–2024. The commute number is a weighted midpoint estimate from table B08303. State income tax is not included in the modeled take-home result. Verify a current address, quote, commute, and tax situation before making a decision.