Birmingham housing market
Typical home value
$261K
▲ 2.4% 1 yr
Typical rent
$1,404/mo
▲ 2.9% 1 yr
12-month forecast
+1.3%
#363 of 546 metros
Gross rent yield
6.5%
#192 of 546 · U.S. 6.3%
Days to pending
51 days
■ 0 days 1 yr
Listings with a price cut
25%
▲ +0.8 pts 1 yr
Key takeaways
- 1The typical home is worth $260,710, up 2.4% in a year and up 16% over five years.
- 2Zillow forecasts home values rising 1.3% over the next 12 months (U.S.: +1.1%).
- 3Typical rent is $1,404/mo (+2.9% YoY), a 6.5% gross yield, above the U.S. 6.3%.
- 4At 7.32% with 20% down, the typical home costs $1,433/mo in principal and interest, $29 more than renting.
- 5Homes go under contract in 51 days (0 days vs last year); 25% of listings have had a price cut.
Market temperature
Neutral market
Buyer'sNeutralSeller's
Zillow Market Heat Index: 46/100, #193 hottest of 546 metros. Below 44 favors buyers; above 55 favors sellers.
Home values and rent
How fast homes are selling
For saleNew listings
Affordability
To buy (20% down)To rent
Source: Zillow Research (ZHVI, ZORI and market activity data).
How Birmingham compares
| Measure | Birmingham | United States | Rank of 546 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home value, 1-yr change | +2.4% | +1.2% | #254 |
| Home value, 5-yr change | +16.1% | +19.7% | |
| 12-month forecast | +1.3% | +1.1% | #363 |
| Rent, 1-yr change | +2.9% | +2.7% | #311 |
| Gross rent yield | 6.5% | 6.3% | #192 |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 15.5 | 15.8 | |
| Mortgage P&I on typical home | $1,433 | $2,012 | |
| Income needed to buy | $69,976 | $100,902 | |
| Days to pending | 51 | 56 |
Cities in the Birmingham metro
12 cities with home value and rent data.
| Birmingham | $134K | ▼ 2.4% | $1,305 | ▲ 2.8% | 11.7% |
| Hoover | $437K | ▲ 2.9% | $1,319 | ▲ 1.9% | 3.6% |
| Bessemer | $132K | ▲ 0.9% | $1,349 | ▲ 1.9% | 12.3% |
| Vestavia Hills | $564K | ▲ 4.1% | $1,953 | ▲ 8.2% | 4.2% |
| Alabaster | $305K | ▲ 2.9% | $1,881 | ▲ 3.4% | 7.4% |
| Homewood | $569K | ▲ 6.6% | $1,384 | ▲ 4.0% | 2.9% |
| Calera | $255K | ▲ 1.0% | $1,642 | ▲ 1.5% | 7.7% |
| Center Point | $155K | ▲ 3.2% | $1,269 | ▲ 4.2% | 9.9% |
| Chelsea | $384K | ▲ 1.0% | $2,135 | ▲ 2.6% | 6.7% |
| Moody | $265K | ▲ 3.2% | $1,773 | ▲ 1.4% | 8.0% |
| Hueytown | $163K | ▲ 0.3% | $1,265 | ▲ 3.7% | 9.3% |
| Irondale | $286K | ▲ 2.6% | $2,122 | ▲ 5.4% | 8.9% |
Run the numbers
Rental property calculator
Cash flow on a typical Birmingham rental ($261K, $1,404/mo), pre-filled.
Mortgage calculator
Monthly payment on a typical Birmingham home.
Rent vs buy
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Birmingham?
Other Alabama metros
Huntsville, AL
$314K home$1,387 rent5.3% yield
▲ 1.1% 1 yr
Mobile, AL
$195K home$1,280 rent7.9% yield
▲ 0.5% 1 yr
Montgomery, AL
$212K home$1,383 rent7.8% yield
▲ 3.6% 1 yr
Tuscaloosa, AL
$239K home$1,668 rent8.4% yield
▲ 0.6% 1 yr
Daphne, AL
$371K home$1,701 rent5.5% yield
▲ 0.1% 1 yr
Auburn, AL
$351K home$1,595 rent5.5% yield
▲ 4.1% 1 yr
Decatur, AL
$227K home$1,082 rent5.7% yield
▲ 0.6% 1 yr
Florence, AL
$215K home$1,073 rent6.0% yield
▲ 2.9% 1 yr
Gross yield = 12 × typical rent ÷ typical home value, before expenses. Mortgage estimate: 20% down, 30-year fixed at the current Freddie Mac average, principal and interest only. Forecast: Zillow Home Value Forecast. Data refreshed Oct 26, 2026.