What percentage of people rent in Birmingham, AL?
54.5% (±1.3 points) of the occupied homes in Birmingham, AL are rented (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
That is 48,386 renting households against 40,402 that own their home.
In Birmingham, the share of households that rent went from 55.1% in 2015–2019 to 54.5% in 2020–2024 (−0.6 percentage points), not a measurable change.
Figures last updated on .
- Households that rent
- 54.5% (±1.3 points)
- Renting households
- 48,386 (±1,514)
- Median renter income
- $35,675 (±$2,083)
Who rents and who owns in Birmingham
| Birmingham | Jefferson County | Alabama | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renter-occupied share | 54.5% (±1.3 points) | 36.1% (±0.8 points) | 29.8% (±0.3 points) | 34.8% |
| Renting households | 48,386 (±1,514) | 97,464 (±2,461) | 595,092 (±6,593) | 45,017,354 |
| Owning households | 40,402 (±1,280) | 172,419 (±2,341) | 1,402,155 (±8,895) | 84,210,142 |
| Average renter household size | 2.0 (±0.1) | 2.2 (±0.0) | 2.3 (±0.0) | 2.3 |
| Average owner household size | 2.3 (±0.1) | 2.5 (±0.0) | 2.6 (±0.0) | 2.6 |
| Median renter household income | $35,675 (±$2,083) | $41,092 (±$1,089) | $38,294 (±$594) | $52,966 |
| Median owner household income | $64,203 (±$3,219) | $87,609 (±$2,302) | $79,108 (±$602) | $100,009 |
In Birmingham, the renter share is higher than in Jefferson County (36.1%).
It is also higher than in Alabama (29.8%).
It is higher than the national figure (34.8%).
In Jefferson County, Birmingham ranks 3 of 40 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest renter share.
Statewide, it ranks 19 of 514.
Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.
How renting in Birmingham has changed since 2015–2019
| 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Amount of change | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 55.1% (±0.9 points) | 54.5% (±1.3 points) | −0.6 percentage points | Not a measurable change |
| Median gross rent | $837 (±$12) | $1,107 (±$21) | +32.3% | Up after inflation |
| Median household income | $37,375 (±$1,137) | $46,051 (±$1,718) | +23.2% | No measurable change after inflation |
The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.
Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.
The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.
Households that rent in places near Birmingham
| Place | Distance | Households that rent | Compared with this place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | — | 54.5% (±1.3 points) | — |
| Mountain Brook | 4.4 mi | 10.1% (±2.8 points) | Lower |
| Homewood | 4.8 mi | 38.3% (±3.7 points) | Lower |
| Tarrant | 4.9 mi | 60.6% (±9.3 points) | Not measurably different |
| Vestavia Hills | 5.6 mi | 22.0% (±2.6 points) | Lower |
| Fultondale | 6.2 mi | 31.3% (±6.4 points) | Lower |
| Forestdale | 6.7 mi | 31.0% (±6.3 points) | Lower |
| Fairfield | 7.9 mi | 41.0% (±7.9 points) | Lower |
| Irondale | 8.0 mi | 39.9% (±6.7 points) | Lower |
Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Mountain Brook, AL (10.1%), Homewood, AL (38.3%), Vestavia Hills, AL (22.0%).
Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.
Households that rent across Jefferson County, place by place
| Rank | Place | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiff | 79.2% (±31.9 points) |
| 2 | Tarrant | 60.6% (±9.3 points) |
| 3 | Birmingham | 54.5% (±1.3 points) |
| 4 | Trafford | 43.6% (±13.0 points) |
| 5 | Bessemer | 42.6% (±4.5 points) |
| 6 | Fairfield | 41.0% (±7.9 points) |
| 7 | Graysville | 40.0% (±12.8 points) |
| 8 | Irondale | 39.9% (±6.7 points) |
| 9 | Center Point | 38.9% (±5.3 points) |
Showing 9 of 40 places in Jefferson County, ranked from highest to lowest.
Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.
Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.
What you can do on Seayora in Birmingham
One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.
Looking for a place to rent?
Browse homes for rent near Birmingham, save the ones you like and apply online.
Browse rentals · Create a renter account
Own or manage a rental?
List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for Birmingham beside you.
Create a landlord account · See what landlords get
Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?
Get found by owners and renters near Birmingham, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.
Questions about Birmingham
How many renters are there in Birmingham?
Birmingham has an estimated 48,386 (±1,514) renting households, 54.5% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Is renting growing in Birmingham?
In Birmingham, the share of households that rent went from 55.1% in 2015–2019 to 54.5% in 2020–2024 (−0.6 percentage points), not a measurable change.
How big are renting households in Birmingham?
A renting household in Birmingham has 2.0 people on average, against 2.3 in an owned home.
How much do renters earn in Birmingham?
The median renting household in Birmingham, AL has an income of $35,675 (±$2,083) a year, against $64,203 for households that own their home.
Sources
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Birmingham city, Alabama
- Median Household Income by Tenure (B25119), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Birmingham city, Alabama
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Birmingham city, Alabama
- Median Gross Rent (B25064), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Birmingham city, Alabama
- Median Household Income (B19013), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Birmingham city, Alabama
- Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, all items, US Bureau of Labor Statistics: annual averages 2019 and 2024
To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Birmingham city, Alabama (place:07000, in state:01).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B19013_001E, B19013_001M from the 2019 release.
The API needs a free key.
DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0047E, DP04_0047M, DP04_0046E, DP04_0046M, DP04_0049E, DP04_0049M, DP04_0048E, DP04_0048M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.
Figures last updated on .
Related
- Housing in Birmingham at a glance
- Median rent in Birmingham
- Rent by bedrooms in Birmingham
- Rent burden in Birmingham
- Income and affordability in Birmingham
- Home values in Birmingham
- Homeowner costs in Birmingham
- Property taxes in Birmingham
- Types of homes in Birmingham
- Bedrooms in Birmingham
- Age of homes in Birmingham
- Vacancy rate in Birmingham
- Heating fuel in Birmingham
- Commute and cars in Birmingham
- Crime reported to police in Birmingham
- Population growth in Birmingham
- How long people stay in Birmingham
- Crowding and facilities in Birmingham
- Fair Market Rent in Birmingham
- Alabama landlord and tenant rules
- Housing across Jefferson County
- Alabama places ranked by share of renters
- Housing data for every place in Alabama