Birmingham, Alabama is a great place to live and work. The city is rich with history and culture, and the consistently strong economy helps make Birmingham real estate a good financial investment.
So in this city profile, we will take a closer look at the city of Birmingham, Alabama from several angles, such as education, lifestyle, real estate and more.
Birmingham's Climate & Weather
Being located in the Deep South of the United States, Birmingham has a humid climate. Actually, in scientific terms, the climate here is considered to be subtropical (meaning hot summers and plenty of rainfall). The city averages about 52 inches of rain each year.
The Birmingham winters could best be described as mild to chilly. In January, one of the coldest months, the average daily high is around 53 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average low is around 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Basic City Stats - Population, Geography, Etc.
Birmingham is the largest city in the state of Alabama. The city lies partly in Jefferson County and partly in Shelby County. Birmingham is the county seat of Jefferson County, Alabama. Geographically speaking, Birmingham is located in the north-central part of Alabama.
To chart the population growth of Birmingham, Alabama, one simply has to compare data over the last few years. In 2000, the population was around 242,000 in the city of Birmingham. Six years later in 2006, the population had actually decreased to about 230,000 in the city.
Today, in 2008, the population has gone back up again and is currently estimated at just over 242,000. So when you consider the last eight years, the population of Birmingham has more or less stayed the same (with a few ups and downs).
Note that these numbers pertain to the city alone, and not to the entire metro area of Birmingham. When you consider the entire metropolitan area of Birmingham, Alabama, the population is well over one million people.
Schools In and Around Birmingham, AL
You can't talk about real estate in a particular city without talking about the city's schools. After all, schools play a major role in property values (in addition to being a quality of life concern). So let's take a quick look at the school situation in this city.
Within the metropolitan Birmingham area, there are three universities, three colleges, four junior colleges, three technical schools, four business schools, and 276 public schools. As you can see, there is plenty of educational opportunity in and around Birmingham, Alabama, which makes a real estate investment much more sound (not to mention boosting the quality of life).
K-12 schools are operated under the purview of the Birmingham Public Schools, which consists of eight elementary schools, a district-wide school for grades 3-8, two middle schools, two high schools, and several alternative programs. In all, these schools serve more than 8,000 K-12 students in Birmingham, Alabama.
At the collegiate level, there are some excellent institutions in Birmingham, including the University of Alabama at Birmingham (also a major employer in the city), Samford University and the University of Montevallo (just south of Birmingham in Montevallo. AL).
Employment & Economy
The largest employers in the city are the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Baptist Medical Centers, BellSouth, and Jefferson County Public Schools. The steel industry also plays a big role in the city's economy, and many jobs can be attributed to steel production and processing facilities.
The Birmingham metropolitan area is consistently ranked as one of America's best places to work, based in part on the salary rates in the area (combined with the relatively low cost of living). In fact, a 2006 study by Salary.com ranked the city #2 on a list of best places to live for building personal net worth!
Should You Buy Real Estate in the Birmingham Area?
Should you buy a home in Birmingham, Alabama? This is a question that only you, as the home buyer, can answer for yourself. Every city in the U.S. has its pros and cons, with regard to quality of life, real estate values, and other factors. And this applies to Birmingham just as well. Hopefully, however, this guide has given you a better insight into this wonderful southern city.
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