Birmingham, AL Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Birmingham, AL: What You Need to Know

If you’re dreaming of “Sweet Home Alabama” as the Lynyrd Skynyrd song goes, check out Birmingham for its quintessential Deep South charm and hospitality.  

The Cost of Living in Birmingham

Birmingham (population: 209,403) is an affordable city with a cost of living that’s 11.5% lower than the national average. Food and transportation costs are 9.6% and 13.7% lower than the national average, respectively. The city’s median gross rent is $797 while the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $920. Alabama’s 2% to 5% income tax rate is considered low. The state’s sales tax rate ranges from 4% to 11.50%.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Birmingham rejuvenated downtown living with the development of a Loft District where old warehouses were converted to loft apartments. In addition, renters also have high-rise buildings to choose from. The growing residential community downtown has drawn restaurants, bars, retailers, and other businesses. In the suburbs, Helena and Hoover are popular choices for their highly rated schools. Helena is known for its idyllic small-town atmosphere while residents love Hoover for its friendly community. 

The Local History

In 1871, English settlers named the area after Birmingham, one of the most industrialized cities in England. Birmingham in Alabama became an important industrial hub in the South, thanks to mineral deposits of iron ore, limestone, and coal in the area. People called it Magic City because of its rapid growth seemingly overnight. 

During the civil rights movement, Birmingham gained notoriety for police aggression against peaceful protesters. In 1963, members of the Ku Klux Klan bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church, killing four African American girls. The bombing amplified racial problems in the South and helped push for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in Congress.

Things to Do in Birmingham

The Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument is one of the city’s most famous attractions. The monument consists of four blocks downtown, covering the A.G. Gaston Motel, the headquarters for the Birmingham civil rights campaign. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders lived in the motel from April to May 1963.

Visitors are also drawn to two different types of museums – the Birmingham Museum of Art and the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. The art museum houses more than 27,000 paintings, sculpture, prints, and drawings. The motorsports museum owns a collection of over 1,600 motorcycles that span more than 100 years of production.

Schools and Education

Birmingham is home to seven universities and colleges and seven community/junior colleges. The University of Alabama at Birmingham with 16,252 students is also the city’s largest employer. Other schools with large enrolment include Samford University with 4,700 students, the University of Montevallo with 3,175 students, and Jefferson Community State College with 6,723 students.

The city’s 116 public schools serve 69,951 students. The public-school system boasts of an average math proficiency score of 48% compared with the state’s 44% average. Birmingham’s reading proficiency score is also higher at 44%, versus Alabama’s 39% average.