Birmingham Neighborhood Breakdown: Where to Find the Cheapest Rent Without Sacrificing Livability

Hi. Larry Allen here, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Birmingham, AL. For more than three decades, I've intermittently resided in and traveled through the city and its many gorgeous suburbs in my role as a financial professional.

During those years, I've witnessed Birmingham's healthy growth firsthand. Somehow, the area has managed to keep its small-town Southern charm, down-home vibe, and relaxed pace of everyday life. Newcomers are always happy to discover that the cost of living here is consistently lower than the national average. That's particularly true for housing and rent prices compared to cities of the same size.

What my wife and I like most about Birmingham is its nice mix of culture and opportunity alongside a healthy dose of Southern hospitality. Foodies enjoy local favorites like Hot and Hot Fish Club, Saw's BBQ, and Highlands Bar & Grill. There are plenty of affordable dining options for all tastes, a thriving arts scene, and a hopping nightlife.

Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in Birmingham

The varied, stable economy features top employers in banking, manufacturing, and education. Prominent universities and trade schools make Birmingham a prime location for students from all over the US. Our family has explored the city for years and always finds something new to enjoy.

Whether you're retired, young and single, or raising a family, our ApartmentHomeLiving.com information below can help you find an affordable, safe, interesting place to call home. Check out the neighborhood close-ups in the following list for the areas that deliver an excellent mix of affordability and quality of life.

Smithfield

Our family lived in Smithfield for one year, the first time we resided in Birmingham. Our experience is that it features a balanced mixture of community pride, sense of history, and affordability. People who live in this neighborhood love it because it's a budget-friendly place to live and work within Greater Birmingham while still being close to everything the vast downtown area has to offer. GreatSchools ratings for Smithfield schools are, for the most part, at or above average.

The average household income stands at approximately $50,000, while about 60% of living space is renter-occupied and 40% owner-occupied. If you decide to move here, expect monthly living costs of slightly higher than $900. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is nearby, as are the 16th Street Baptist Church and City Hall.

My best friend's favorite feature of the neighborhood is its proximity to UAB and the downtown business district, both about 10 minutes away in normal traffic. The bus lines are extensive and will get you pretty much anywhere you need to go in and around Smithfield. Tuggle Elementary is one of the better local schools, and there are lots of long-time residents, including many senior citizens, who have been here for decades.

Acipco Finley

We've spent many months in the Acipco Finley neighborhood of Birmingham, and our family's experience is that it has a very working-class, down-to-earth feel to it. People here enjoy the affordable cost of living and the fact that Acipco Finley is ideal for individuals or families who want to live and work close to downtown without breaking the bank.

Traffic is rarely congested, and it's nice to be just 15 minutes from the airport and 10 minutes from downtown. Bus routes are extensive if you don't own a car. My co-worker's favorite thing about the area is its proximity to Legion Field, with its football games and other events, and Birmingham-Southern College. Nearby schools, like Hudson K-8 and Jackson-Olin High School, are well respected, and GreatSchools ratings tend to be average.

The average household income is just over $38,000 per year, with most homes being of modest size. The area has a balanced mixture of older and younger residents who value the affordability factor. Expect to see duplexes, small rental homes, and older single-family homes in this resilient, friendly neighborhood that is near the heart of Birmingham.

Mason City

My wife, best friend, and I have all lived and worked in the Mason City area, a “city within a city” that has a welcoming, small-town feel. Long-time residents are quick to befriend newcomers. The neighborhood is not only affordable but also close to downtown and all sorts of everyday conveniences. While about one-third of the locals earn less than $27,000 per year, the majority fall into the $25,000-$44,000 bracket, and housing costs are moderate.

The median real estate price in the Mason City area is around $130,000. Our family loved the fact that the Birmingham CrossPlex, Rickwood Field, and Legion Field were just a short drive away. That makes the place ideal for folks who value community and sporting events of all kinds. Plus, downtown and the airport are only 10 and 15 minutes, respectively, away from Mason City.

Public bus routes are easy to access, as are several I-65 on-ramps. Our daughter lived here for six months without a car and was able to get everywhere she needed to go by using the bus and an occasional ride service. While GreatSchools ratings are moderate, many locals send their kids to nearby Jackson-Olin High and Hemphill Elementary. Whenever we went for walks, we could feel the strong sense of history and community in the neighborhood.

Woodland Park

What my wife and I enjoyed about our time as house renters in Woodland Park is the relaxed atmosphere and the fact that most of the neighbors seem to know each other. In and around Birmingham, the area has a reputation for being affordable for families and single people who like being near the big city but not residing in it.

Commuting is simple because the airport is just 15 minutes away and downtown is 10 minutes by car or bus. If you move here, expect lighter-than-usual car traffic, something we both enjoy when visiting the area's many green spaces and parks. There are also open fields and trails where kids and adults play ball games and enjoy weekend strolls.

While the median household income hovers around $34,000 and median rents are just above $1,000, most spaces are owner-occupied. However, many households rent rooms out to temporary residents.

GreatSchools ratings are modest, but nearby Jackson-Olin High and Tuggle Elementary are popular choices for families with school-age children. Woodland Park attracts long-term residents of all ages who like the affordability factor and prefer older, single-family homes. The sense of community here is very strong, and the overall vibe is quiet and comfortable.

Evergreen

If you are searching for a quiet community that is affordable and only about 10 minutes from downtown Birmingham, Evergreen is a wise choice. My family and I spent a lot of time here during the early 2020s and liked its proximity to all the civil rights landmarks, UAB, and city offices.

My wife travels for her job, so I was glad that the airport is only a 15 to 20-minute drive away. Major highways are also close by. Our friends who live in Evergreen appreciate the neighborhood's proximity to Regions Field and Railroad Park, as well as the quick access to major highways.

Many of the area's residents have lived in Evergreen their whole lives. They and the many newcomers like the affordable housing, genuine “neighborhood” vibe, large yards, small rental units, and access to Jackson-Olin High School and Hemphill Elementary.

Enon Ridge

I've gotten to know this affordable, friendly neighborhood that's only a 5-minute drive from downtown. Many of our friends live in Enon Ridge, and they like being close to Kelly Ingram Park, UAB, and the city's Civil Rights Institute.

The airport is only 15 minutes away, and daily traffic patterns tend to be very light. When we visit, the bus lines make it simple to get to and from the area. People we know in Enon Ridge get by quite well without a car, and the average household income is around $40,000.

Slightly more than half of properties are rented; the rest are owner-occupied. The median monthly rental cost is $650, and GreatSchools ratings tend to be average.

Our friends send their children to Tuggle Elementary and Jackson-Olin High, where most of the teachers are long-term employees and know the students personally. If you move here, expect to see a mixture of retirees, younger families, and single people. Enon Ridge has a community-focused, traditional feel. The long-term residents welcome the newcomers who visit or stay to live and work in the area.