Metro area profile · Alabama
Birmingham, AL metro area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Birmingham metro area, each scored against other metro areas.
- Population, 2025
- 1,197,766
- +1.4% since 2020
- Households
- 465,003
- Median household income
- $71,498
- Median home value
- $240,200
- Jobs located here
- 555,318
- Highest market score
- 78
- Pet stores, #13 of 382 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Birmingham metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Birmingham metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 1,197,766 people live in the Birmingham metro area, in 465,003 households. Population estimates show the Birmingham metro area grew 1.4% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in the Birmingham metro area is $71,498 a year, 11% below the U.S. median of $80,734.
Set against the U.S., households in the Birmingham metro area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 130, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (75).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Birmingham metro area are for pet stores (78), coffee shops and cafes (68) and laundromats (64). The Birmingham metro area ranks #13 of 382 scored metro areas for pet stores.
The Birmingham metro area takes in 7 counties: Jefferson County, Shelby County, St. Clair County, Walker County and 3 more. For its number of households, the Birmingham metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (84% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for pet stores (40% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Birmingham metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Birmingham metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pet stores | 78 | #13 of 382 | 56 | 1.2 | $7.4M | 164 | 20 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 68 | #55 of 387 | 345 | 7.4 | $5.1M | 137 | 191 |
| Laundromats | 64 | #93 of 364 | 57 | 1.2 | $15.4M | 123 | 17 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 64 | #115 of 385 | 243 | 5.2 | $2.8M | 96 | 354 |
| Pet businesses | 63 | #95 of 387 | 418 | 9.0 | $995K | 113 | 243 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 62 | #98 of 387 | 353 | 7.6 | $4.9M | 119 | 216 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 61 | #111 of 386 | 153 | 3.3 | $2.7M | 107 | 84 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 61 | #114 of 387 | 448 | 9.6 | $1.5M | 91 | 617 |
| Electricians | 58 | #128 of 383 | 106 | 2.3 | $12.6M | 105 | 269 |
| Chiropractors | 57 | #136 of 386 | 174 | 3.7 | $3M | 124 | 97 |
| House cleaning | 55 | #133 of 375 | 123 | 2.6 | $5.6M | 87 | 190 |
| Spas and skin care | 54 | #154 of 387 | 409 | 8.8 | $1M | 116 | 75 |
| Property management | 53 | #158 of 374 | 111 | 2.4 | Index only | 114 | 196 |
| Child care and preschools | 53 | #178 of 387 | 232 | 5.0 | $925K | 92 | 228 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 52 | #175 of 387 | 2,650 | 57.0 | $658K | 99 | 618 |
| Roofing and gutters | 52 | #180 of 381 | 188 | 4.0 | $7.1M | 84 | 73 |
| Home inspectors | 51 | #120 of 243 | 30 | 0.6 | Index only | 89 | 25 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 51 | #185 of 387 | 4,531 | 97.4 | $385K | 104 | 1,969 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 50 | #200 of 381 | 122 | 2.6 | $3.6M | 116 | 119 |
| Auto repair shops | 50 | #203 of 387 | 1,009 | 21.7 | $432K | 97 | 407 |
| Insurance agencies | 48 | #195 of 387 | 936 | 20.1 | $1.3M | 101 | 547 |
| Car washes and detailing | 48 | #211 of 387 | 191 | 4.1 | $2.3M | 91 | 67 |
| Veterinarians | 47 | #215 of 384 | 164 | 3.5 | $2.5M | 93 | 139 |
| Auto repair and car care | 47 | #231 of 387 | 1,716 | 36.9 | $254K | 95 | 632 |
| Pest control | 46 | #198 of 345 | 82 | 1.8 | $8.4M | 82 | 73 |
| Pizza | 46 | #224 of 387 | 291 | 6.3 | $6M | 118 | 1,128 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 46 | #237 of 387 | 170 | 3.7 | $2M | 100 | 108 |
| Home repair trades | 45 | #228 of 387 | 648 | 13.9 | $2.1M | 85 | 773 |
| Convenience stores | 44 | #237 of 387 | 414 | 8.9 | $6.7M | 85 | 116 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 44 | #239 of 387 | 871 | 18.7 | $3.2M | 94 | 303 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 42 | #191 of 290 | 30 | 0.6 | $14.5M | 106 | 54 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 42 | #242 of 347 | 78 | 1.7 | $4.4M | 108 | 151 |
| Dry cleaners | 41 | #181 of 272 | 53 | 1.1 | $16.5M | 106 | 46 |
| Barbershops | 41 | #279 of 387 | 292 | 6.3 | $1.4M | 75 | 17 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 40 | #136 of 197 | 28 | 0.6 | $18.4M | 75 | 31 |
| Funeral homes | 39 | #254 of 377 | 111 | 2.4 | $572K | 84 | 58 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 39 | #282 of 387 | 3,583 | 77.1 | $144K | 94 | 1,605 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 39 | #305 of 387 | 2,209 | 47.5 | $187K | 88 | 409 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 38 | #282 of 387 | 302 | 6.5 | $1.7M | 96 | 775 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 38 | #289 of 387 | 354 | 7.6 | $3.8M | 79 | 431 |
| Grocery stores | 37 | #281 of 387 | 328 | 7.1 | $8.5M | 91 | 187 |
| Nail salons | 37 | #326 of 387 | 309 | 6.6 | $1.3M | 80 | 72 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 36 | #314 of 387 | 621 | 13.4 | $551K | 83 | 259 |
| Real estate | 36 | #327 of 387 | 1,867 | 40.2 | Index only | 87 | 857 |
| Hair salons | 36 | #331 of 387 | 1,160 | 24.9 | $357K | 83 | 231 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 35 | #318 of 373 | 218 | 4.7 | Index only | 82 | 85 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 35 | #339 of 387 | 1,508 | 32.4 | Index only | 85 | 441 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 32 | #299 of 387 | 691 | 14.9 | $2.5M | 83 | 1,128 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 32 | #334 of 387 | 594 | 12.8 | $869K | 88 | 395 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 31 | #313 of 387 | 1,184 | 25.5 | $740K | 84 | 526 |
| Gyms | 30 | #348 of 387 | 373 | 8.0 | $918K | 71 | 151 |
| Gas stations | 29 | #330 of 387 | 936 | 20.1 | $1.5M | 62 | 661 |
| Physical therapy | 29 | #340 of 386 | 284 | 6.1 | $1.8M | 76 | 202 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 28 | #325 of 387 | 932 | 20.0 | $940K | 74 | 463 |
| Tire shops | 28 | #327 of 386 | 264 | 5.7 | $1.7M | 66 | 92 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 23 | #365 of 386 | 213 | 4.6 | $2.4M | 77 | 105 |
Household spending in the Birmingham metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $435.8M | $937 | 98 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $1.4B | $2,991 | 115 |
| Food away from home | $1.7B | $3,753 | 92 |
| Groceries | $2.8B | $5,987 | 95 |
| Personal care products and services | $414.1M | $890 | 89 |
| Child care and other personal services | $214.6M | $462 | 79 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $342.5M | $736 | 75 |
| Medical and dental services | $515.9M | $1,109 | 86 |
| Pets | $415.8M | $894 | 98 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $876.3M | $1,885 | 92 |
| Vehicle insurance | $1.2B | $2,550 | 130 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $1.3B | $2,864 | 95 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $684.7M | $1,473 | 104 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $7B | $15,058 | 90 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Birmingham metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 1,197,766+1.4% since 2020
- Households
- 465,003
- Median age
- 40.0
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 71%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 5,280 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 224
- Median household income
- $71,498
- Average household income
- $100,521
- Median home value
- $240,200
- Jobs located here
- 555,318
- Daytime population
- 1,227,371Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Birmingham metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Birmingham metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Birmingham metro area 7
- Jefferson County, AL667,755 people
- Shelby County, AL230,211 people
- St. Clair County, AL94,166 people
- Walker County, AL64,841 people
- Blount County, AL59,518 people
- Chilton County, AL45,992 people
- Bibb County, AL22,130 people
Other markets based in Alabama 12
- Huntsville, AL metro area516,951 people
- Mobile, AL metro area412,590 people
- Montgomery, AL metro area386,024 people
- Tuscaloosa, AL metro area278,526 people
- Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL metro area246,989 people
- Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area199,825 people
- Decatur, AL metro area157,747 people
- Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL metro area153,852 people
- Dothan, AL metro area152,674 people
- Anniston-Oxford, AL metro area116,090 people
- Gadsden, AL metro area103,105 people
- Albertville, AL area99,748 people
Questions
How fast is the Birmingham, AL metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Birmingham metro area at 1,197,766 people in 2025, up 1.4% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 465,003 households.
How much do households in the Birmingham, AL metro area spend?
Households in the Birmingham metro area spend about $7B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $2.8B on groceries and $1.7B on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Birmingham metro area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 130, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (75).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Birmingham, AL metro area?
Of the business types scored in the Birmingham metro area, pet stores (78), coffee shops and cafes (68) and laundromats (64) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For pet stores, that ranks #13 of 382 scored metro areas.
How does the Birmingham, AL metro area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Birmingham metro area is $71,498, 11% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $240,200, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (84% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for pet stores (40% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in the Birmingham metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Birmingham metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Alabama · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Birmingham metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Birmingham metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.