Birmingham, AL

Census Place

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2020 Population

210,928

0.645% 1-year decline

US Senator

Richard Shelby

Republican Party

US Senator

Tommy Tuberville

Republican Party

2020 Median Age

36.2

0.836% 1-year increase

2020 Poverty Rate

24.7%

4.54% 1-year decrease

2020 Median Household Income

$38,832

3.9% 1-year growth

2020 Median Property Value

$97,500

7.03% 1-year growth

2020 Employed Population

94,494

0.647% 1-year decline

About

In 2020, Birmingham, AL had a population of 211k people with a median age of 36.2 and a median household income of $38,832. Between 2019 and 2020 the population of Birmingham, AL declined from 212,297 to 210,928, a −0.645% decrease and its median household income grew from $37,375 to $38,832, a 3.9% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Birmingham, AL are Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (68.1%), White (Non-Hispanic) (24.5%), White (Hispanic) (2.06%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (1.66%), and Other (Hispanic) (1.46%).

None of the households in Birmingham, AL reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

96.9% of the residents in Birmingham, AL are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Birmingham, AL are University of Alabama at Birmingham (5,956 degrees awarded in 2020), Jefferson State Community College (1,284 degrees), and Lawson State Community College (759 degrees).

In 2020, the median property value in Birmingham, AL was $97,500, and the homeownership rate was 45.9%.

Most people in Birmingham, AL drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 21.7 minutes. The average car ownership in Birmingham, AL was 2 cars per household.

Photo by Thomas Hawk

Population & Diversity

Birmingham, AL is home to a population of 211k people, from which 96.9% are citizens. As of 2018, 3.66% of Birmingham, AL residents were born outside of the country (7.76k people).

In 2020, there were 2.78 times more Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents (144k people) in Birmingham, AL than any other race or ethnicity. There were 51.7k White (Non-Hispanic) and 4.34k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

96.9%

2020 Citizenship

97.1%

2019 Citizenship

As of 2020, 96.9% of Birmingham, AL residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2019, the percentage of US citizens in Birmingham, AL was 97.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Birmingham, AL compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Birmingham, AL

Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
144k ± 2.11k
White (Non-Hispanic)
51.7k ± 2.01k
White (Hispanic)
4.34k ± 821

4.14%

Hispanic Population

8.73k people

4.14% of the people in Birmingham, AL are hispanic (8.73k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Birmingham, AL as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Alabama.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
47,080 ± 5,301 people
Guatemala
12,910 ± 2,786 people
India
10,249 ± 2,483 people

In 2020, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Alabama was Mexico, the natal country of 47,080 Alabama residents, followed by Guatemala with 12,910 and India with 10,249.

Foreign-Born Population

3.66%

2018 Foreign-Born Population

7.76k people

3.47%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

7.38k people

As of 2018, 3.66% of Birmingham, AL residents (7.76k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.5%. In 2017, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Birmingham, AL was 3.47%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Birmingham, AL compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
4,212 ± 486
Gulf War (2001-)
2,016 ± 364
Gulf War (1990s)
1,871 ± 331

Birmingham, AL has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.09 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Birmingham, AL employs 94.5k people. The largest industries in Birmingham, AL are Health Care & Social Assistance (16,852 people), Retail Trade (11,928 people), and Educational Services (8,791 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($68,750), Management of Companies & Enterprises ($65,446), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($56,918).

Males in Alabama have an average income that is 1.44 times higher than the average income of females, which is $44,111. The income inequality in Alabama (measured using the Gini index) is 0.458, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

94.5k

2020 Value

± 2,789

−0.647%

1 Year decline

± 3.85%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Birmingham, AL declined at a rate of −0.647%, from 95.1k employees to 94.5k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Birmingham, AL, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (11,361 people), Sales & Related Occupations (10,616 people), and Management Occupations (7,345 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Birmingham, AL.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Alabama.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Alabama (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

94.5k

2020 Value

± 2,789

−0.647%

1 Year decline

± 3.85%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Birmingham, AL declined at a rate of −0.647%, from 95.1k employees to 94.5k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Birmingham, AL, are Health Care & Social Assistance (16,852 people), Retail Trade (11,928 people), and Educational Services (8,791 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Birmingham, AL, though some of these residents may live in Birmingham, AL and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$32,444

Median earning men ± $1,229

$27,956

Median earning women ± $1,177

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2020 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($62,315), Public Administration ($53,250), and Information ($44,766).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2020 are Information ($45,740), Public Administration ($40,648), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($40,280).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Alabama.

Y-Axis

8.45%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between May 2020 and May 2021

As of May 2021, there are 145M people employed in Alabama. This represents a 8.45% increase in employment when compared to May 2020.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Alabama.

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Alabama to other states, or from other states to Alabama.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound Alabama product (by dollars) was Motorized vehicles with $52.4B, followed by Pharmaceuticals ($22.9B) and Base metals ($20.4B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Alabama products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Alabama.

$282B

2020 Value in Alabama

$539B

Projected 2050 Value in Alabama

91.3% growth

In 2020, total outbound Alabama trade was $282B. This is expected to increase 91.3% to $539B by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Alabama trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Alabama to other states, or from other states to Alabama.

Most Common Trade Partners

Georgia
$31.7B
Florida
$21.3B
Tennessee
$14.3B

In 2020, the top outbound Alabama domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Georgia with $31.7B, followed by Florida with $21.3B and Tennessee and $14.3B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Alabama shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

Richard Shelby and Tommy Tuberville are the senators currently representing the state of Alabama. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Alabama is currently represented by 7 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Senators Elections

US Senators from Alabama

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Alabama.

Richard Shelby

Senator from Alabama

Assumed office on January 3, 1987
Until 1994, Richard Shelby won election to the Senate as a member of the Democratic Party.

Tommy Tuberville

Senator from Alabama

Assumed office on January 3, 2021

Richard Shelby and Tommy Tuberville are the senators currently representing Alabama.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Alabama over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representatives Elections

US Representatives from Alabama

Alabama is currently represented by 7 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Alabama have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2020, universities in Birmingham, AL awarded 8,680 degrees. The student population of Birmingham, AL in 2020 is skewed towards women, with 13,312 male students and 24,018 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Birmingham, AL are White (5,036 and 60.6%), followed by Black or African American (2,229 and 26.8%), Asian (398 and 4.79%), and Hispanic or Latino (299 and 3.6%).

The largest universities in Birmingham, AL by number of degrees awarded are University of Alabama at Birmingham (5,956 and 68.6%), Jefferson State Community College (1,284 and 14.8%), and Lawson State Community College (759 and 8.74%).

The most popular majors in Birmingham, AL are Registered Nursing (1,276 and 14.7%), General Business Administration & Management (454 and 5.23%), and General Studies (445 and 5.13%).

The median tuition costs in Birmingham, AL are $17,650 for private four year colleges, and $8,568 and $20,400 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2020 in Birmingham, AL, the percentage of applicants admitted was 76.7%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 24.4%. The number of students enrolled in 2020 was 37,330 (35.7% men and 64.3% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2020 there were 37,330 students enrolled in Birmingham, AL, 35.7% men and 64.3% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 20,258 records, of which 62.4% were women and 37.6% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Biological Sciences
148 degree-majors awarded
Registered Nursing
389 degree-majors awarded
General Psychology
220 degree-majors awarded

In 2020, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Birmingham, AL was General Biological Sciences with 148 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Birmingham, AL according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

University of Alabama at Birmingham
5,956 degrees awarded
Jefferson State Community College
1,284 degrees awarded
Lawson State Community College
759 degrees awarded

In 2020, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was University of Alabama at Birmingham with 5,956 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2020, 3,226 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Birmingham, AL, which is 0.591 times less than the 5,454 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2020 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 5,036 degrees mean that there were 2.26 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 2,229 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($17,650) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2020.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,250) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2020.

Public, 2-year ($2,231) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Alabama.

Measure

In 2020, 0.875% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.825% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Alabama.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2020 were High School or Equivalent (1.18M), Some college (900k), and Secondary Education (638k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Birmingham, AL was $97,500 in 2020, which is 0.424 times smaller than the national average of $229,800. Between 2019 and 2020 the median property value increased from $91,100 to $97,500, a 7.03% increase. The homeownership rate in Birmingham, AL is 45.9%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.4%.

People in Birmingham, AL have an average commute time of 21.7 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Birmingham, AL is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Birmingham, AL is $38,832. In 2020, the place with the highest median household income in Birmingham, AL was Census Tract 129.11 with a value of $148,365, followed by Census Tract 127.03 and Census Tract 108.01, with respective values of $137,000 and $120,346.

Housing

Property

$97,500

Median Property Value 2020

±$3,533

$42,075

Median Property Taxes

±$1,740

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Birmingham, AL the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Birmingham, AL compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

45.9%

Homeownership

2020

65.4%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2020

In 2020, 45.9% of the housing units in Birmingham, AL were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 44.9%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Birmingham, AL compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 129.11
Census Tract 127.03
Census Tract 108.01

In 2020, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Birmingham, AL was Census Tract 129.11 with a value of $148,365, followed by Census Tract 127.03 and Census Tract 108.01, with respective values of $137,000 and $120,346.

The following map shows all of the places in Birmingham, AL colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$38,832

Median Household Income

± $1,486

91.6k

Number of Households

± 2,705

In 2020, the median household income of the 91.6k households in Birmingham, AL grew to $38,832 from the previous year's value of $37,375.

The following chart displays the households in Birmingham, AL distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the < $10k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Birmingham, AL is from Alabama.

0.458

2020 Wage GINI in Alabama

0.459

2019 Wage GINI in Alabama

In 2020, the income inequality in Alabama was 0.458 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.32% decline from 2019 to 2020, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Alabama was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Alabama in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Alabama across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2018

Drove Alone (80.3%)
Carpooled (10.7%)
Walked (2.78%)

In 2018, 80.3% of workers in Birmingham, AL drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (10.7%) and those who walked to work (2.78%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

21.7 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Birmingham, AL have a shorter commute time (21.7 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.9 minutes). Additionally, 1.43% of the workforce in Birmingham, AL have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Birmingham, AL compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Birmingham, AL distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Birmingham, AL have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

24.7% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Birmingham, AL (50.3k out of 204k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.8%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Females 55 - 64.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Birmingham, AL is Black, followed by White and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

86.9% of the population of Birmingham, AL has health coverage, with 37.8% on employee plans, 24.5% on Medicaid, 10.9% on Medicare, 11.7% on non-group plans, and 2.03% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in Alabama was $7,281 in 2014. This is a 4.07% increase from the previous year ($6,996).

Primary care physicians in Jefferson County, AL see 920 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.08% decrease from the previous year (930 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1085 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 524 patients per year.

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for Alabama. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

Y-Axis

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in Alabama, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Jefferson County, AL.

920 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Jefferson County, AL

Primary care physicians in Jefferson County, AL see an average of 920 patients per year. This represents a 1.08% decrease from the previous year (930 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Jefferson County, AL in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Community Mobility

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Alabama.

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of Alabama across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2020, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 21% under 18 years, 27.8% between 18 and 34 years, 35.9% between 35 and 64 years, and 15.3% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 45.1% were men and 54.9% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

13.1%

Uninsured

37.8%

Employer Coverage

24.5%

Medicaid

10.9%

Medicare

11.7%

Non-Group

2.03%

Military or VA

Between 2017 and 2018, the percent of uninsured citizens in Birmingham, AL declined by 5.21% from 13.8% to 13.1%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Birmingham, AL changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.