8 Best Places to Live in Birmingham, AL

Are you getting ready to experience the wonders of “Magic City?” With over 150 years of history, Birmingham, Alabama, is many things: a center for the Civil Rights movement and a hub for business and healthcare. Education, arts, and culture flourish, and picturesque parks and trails add to the attraction.

Before you move to Birmingham, learn a little about Alabama’s largest city. There are countless reasons why living in Birmingham is an excellent choice for individuals and families alike. And get the flavor of the city through some of its top neighborhoods.

About Birmingham, AL

Birmingham is Alabama’s largest city, but even so, it’s not super packed like other major metropolitan areas such as Nashville or Atlanta. Just over 200,000 people live in the city limits. That doesn’t include the surrounding suburbs that make up the Birmingham metro, bringing the area’s population up to 1.1 million. It’s a relatively young city with a median age of 35.7.

One of Birmingham’s early nicknames was the “Pittsburgh of the South” because it started as an industrial hub for iron and steel production. The rich mineral deposits were one of the reasons why Birmingham was founded. It grew around two rail lines transporting this natural wealth across the nation. The industry remains essential, as the area has several auto manufacturing plants and other processing plants still at work today.

However, modern Birmingham has pivoted more towards technology and medical research. The Innovation Depot is one of the largest complexes in the southeast, with facilities for startups and tech companies. Birmingham is ranked as a top city for entrepreneurs.

Education is core to the city’s identity, just as much as the steel mills and industry. The University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) is among the top federally funded research universities. Birmingham also has four other colleges, including Birmingham Southern College, Jefferson State, and Lawson State.

In addition, it has a high concentration of healthcare jobs.

Birmingham has taken advantage of the rolling landscape in central Alabama. Located on the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, the abundance of parks and green spaces is one of the perks of living in Birmingham. It has more green spaces per capita than any city of similar size in the nation.

Popular Red Mountain Park spans 1,500 acres and has a dog park, 15 miles of trails, and three tree houses to explore. Ruffner Mountain is another one of the popular places for residents to go for the stunning views and ample outdoor space. The Birmingham Botanical Gardens is one of the city’s prized attractions, with a Cherry Blossom Festival in the spring, storytime for the kids, and fall festivities.

Birmingham is a highly active city. It’s not just NASCAR racing at Barber Motorsports Park. Sports Business Journal calls it one of the top 50 cities for sports. The city loves hosting various sporting events, from the Mercedes-Benz Marathon to the USFL Birmingham Stallions. It hosted the 2022 World Games and the top Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for bowl games.

Besides a thriving work environment and excellent educational opportunities, many attractions are included here. You can visit numerous historical attractions, from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute to the historic Carver Theater. Two Halls of Fame, Jazz and Alabama Sports, are based here. Families will enjoy the 700 animals at the zoo, or the McWane Center, with its IMAX dome theater and interactive science exhibits.

Birmingham real estate

Alabama ranks as one of the most affordable states to buy a home in the United States. Birmingham is also among the most affordable cities for first-time homebuyers.

In the Birmingham metro, the monthly supply of inventory has been slowly rising since its low in January 2022. As of February 2023, it had a 3.5-month supply of inventory. That’s more in line with its five-year historical average.

Days on the market were also up, and housing prices have moderated from their all-time high of $315,000 reported in June 2022. As of February 2023, the median sales price was $259,900. This makes housing prices well below the national average of $400,000. Closed sales were down, following a nationwide trend.

As you can see, housing prices make Birmingham an affordable place to buy a home. There are many wonderful neighborhoods inside the city and in the surrounding suburbs to check out. So where should you look to purchase property in Birmingham? We will focus solely on what neighborhoods are popular within the city limits.

Birmingham top neighborhoods

Highland Park

Beautiful Highland Park has received many accolades in its history. Not only is it convenient to the downtown business district, but this rolling community feels quaint and charming under the mature trees. Numerous parks provide additional green spaces for play and relaxation.

Residents like how it mixes that quiet suburban feel with many activities. There are multiple trending restaurants and coffee shops in the neighborhood. And, if you’re in healthcare, two hospitals are conveniently in the northwest corner.

Highland Park has a mix of real estate, from single-family new developments to condos and apartments. The community had a median list price of $300,000 in March 2023, with 29 homes for sale.

Forest Park

Forest Park is a great neighborhood to check out if you want to be close to nature. Not only is it around Red Mountain, with over a thousand acres of green space, but it has more parkland thanks to Avondale Park, Altamont Park, and the two golf courses nearby.

Living here balances the blend of urban amenities. Accessing some of the top city landmarks, like the Botanical Gardens or the Sloss Furnaces, is easy. Along 4th Avenue, residents can stop in at Avondale Brewing to try the latest craft creation or pick up ice cream from Big Spoon Creamery. More bars and grills, dining, restaurants, and shopping options are all close at hand.

Forest Park housing tends to be historic, as it’s full of many early-period homes. The stately look of the residences earned the neighborhood its nickname, the “Country Club District.” It had a median price of $700,000 for the 11 homes for sale in March 2023.

Redmont Park

This is another southside Birmingham community prized for its access to the city’s green spaces. It’s just to the southwest of Forest Park and next to Mountain Brook, a top metro suburb for its schools and housing.

Living here, residents can easily access the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the Zoo, and Red Mountain. The beautiful winding streets roll up and down hills for beautiful views. Best of all, it has a more affordable price tag of $289,000, with 11 homes for sale in March 2023.

Downtown

It doesn’t get more exciting than living in a downtown area. Birmingham’s historic streetcar line makes it easy to get around without needing a car.

Residents can enjoy the balanced living found in this mixed-use district. You can walk to places to work, eat, and shop.

Downtown includes some of the smaller residential neighborhoods like Druid Hills in fountain Heights. Residents have access to key cultural sites in Birmingham, like the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and the Civil Rights Heritage Trail.

However, it’s not all museums and attractions. Residents have stores catering to the daily essentials and for finding something unique. You can check out the famous Read Books or find secondhand goods at one of the consignment shops.

When you do want to relax in nature but don’t want to drive out to the suburbs, check out Railroad Park, downtown’s green oasis. Watch nearby trains come and go as your run the paths or ice skate at the winter rink.

Central City

The revamped Central City is now a growing downtown neighborhood. The revitalization project has converted older buildings into trendy lofts, residences, business, and retail space.

Like many downtown neighborhoods, it’s highly walkable to downtown or the UAB campus. It also has an extensive nightlife scene booming along First and Second Avenues with high-end cocktail bars and laidback sports bars. Central City is also close to historic venues like the Lyric Center and the Carver Center. The Birmingham Museum of Art is also in Central City.

Among the red brick buildings, you will find a lot of condos and converted lofts. Central City had 24 homes for sale at a median of $340,000 in March 2023.

Lakeview District

If you want to live near a place with lots of culture, the Lakeview District might appeal to you. It grew up in a streetcar neighborhood, so you’ll find some classic buildings bursting with character. Sometimes this area is called “Southside.”

Residents can walk to the Civil Rights Institute or the Birmingham Museum. However, this isn’t just a cultural district, although that is one of the perks. Lakeview has no shortage of dining, nightlife venues, and independent shops. As an example, The Market at Pepper Place has healthy and locally-grown produce and goods.

Real estate includes redeveloped industrial buildings that are now condos or lofts. There’s also been lots of new construction to cater to the demand for downtown living. The area had ten homes for sale at a median of $1.1 million in 2023.

Five Points South

Convenience is king in Five Points South, which has a young vibe thanks to its proximity to the UAB campus. Don’t be surprised to find a lot of students and young professionals living in this area. One iconic attraction is the central Storyteller Fountain, now a popular spot for snapping social media photos.

The 9,000 residents have convenient access to many parts of Birmingham. You can take one of the intersecting roads into campus, downtown Birmingham, Lakeview, or one of the suburbs.

Right at the historic intersection is a collection of pubs, delicious globally-inspired restaurants, and chain dining. Some of the restaurants are home to James Beard Award winners, which is why Five Points South is referred to as Birmingham’s “food hub.” But there’s more than delicious eats in Five Points. Find funky retail options like vintage clothing stores and record shops. There’s even an apothecary that’s been in business since 1914. Best of all, it’s a highly walkable neighborhood.

Five Points South had 28 homes for sale in March 2023 at a median price of $300,000.

Glen Iris

The suburban community is right off of I-65, making it easy to get into downtown or the UAB campus when you want. The community has its own park, Glen Iris Park, and George Ward Park. The Vulcan Trail will lead you right up Red Mountain.

To find shopping, whether it’s your daily grocery run or for a special occasion, you can visit the Riverchase Galleria Mall or the Red Mountain Shopping Center. The latter is among Alabama’s biggest enclosed malls, with over 150 stores.

It has a mix of single-family homes, condominiums, and apartments. The March 2023 market had 17 homes for sale at $285,000.

Living in Birmingham

As you can see, there’s a lot to love about living in Birmingham. Besides its many historical attractions, residents have an affordable cost of living and a rich dining scene. Residents benefit from an extensive parks and recreation system with beautiful views from Red Mountain. If this sounds like the right city for you to set up a home, learn more by talking to a local real estate agent.