The Birmingham metro is home to 1,181,432 people (up 3.0% over five years), with a median household income of $69,627. Typical rent of $1,404/month works out to 24.2% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Birmingham's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 24.1% |
| Retail trade | 11.2% |
| Professional & management | 10.1% |
| Manufacturing | 10.0% |
| Finance, insurance & real estate | 8.3% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 24.2% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Birmingham market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,404/month suggests a household income around $56,000/year. The metro's median household income is $69,627.
By workforce share: Education & health care (24.1%), Retail trade (11.2%), Professional & management (10.1%) (Census ACS 5-year).