Population 22,132 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Birmingham
Household size in Birmingham
| Period | Birmingham | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.39 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.38 | 2.58 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.37 | 2.57 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.08 | −0.07 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Birmingham is a place of small households, averaging 2.37 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has crept up from 2.28 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the west.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Birmingham
| Period | Birmingham | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.0 | 39.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.4 | 40.1 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.8 | 40.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.9 | 41.0 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.9 | +2.1 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Birmingham is 42.9 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 42.0 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the east, the oldest in the center.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Birmingham
| Period | Birmingham | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 12.1% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.6% | 12.3% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 11.3% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 11.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.0% of households in Birmingham, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.8 points, mirroring the country. Birmingham has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Michigan cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Birmingham
Renters in Birmingham
| Period | Birmingham | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.4% | 26.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.4% | 30.2% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.2% | 31.0% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.3% | 28.8% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Birmingham is largely a place of homeowners: only 23.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About three in ten owners (29.8%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the west.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Birmingham
| Period | Birmingham | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 11.3% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 11.2% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.2% | 10.0% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 8.3% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −3.1 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Birmingham as nationally: 9.0%, against 9.6%. Vacancy has edged down 0.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Birmingham
| Period | Birmingham | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1956 | 1968 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1957 | 1969 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1959 | 1969 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1963 | 1970 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +2 | +3 | +6 |
The housing in Birmingham is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1963, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1956 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the north has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Birmingham
| Period | Birmingham | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,283 | $952 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,480 | $1,005 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,586 | $1,123 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,967 | $1,373 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$684 | +$421 | +$395 | +$606 |
The median renter in Birmingham pays $1,967 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $684 a month since 2006–10, up 53%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.0% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southeast; the most affordable are in the northeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Birmingham
Bachelor's degrees in Birmingham
| Period | Birmingham | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 74.7% | 27.8% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 77.6% | 28.8% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 76.9% | 31.1% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 77.7% | 34.5% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +6.7 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Birmingham is highly educated: about eight in ten adults 25 and older (77.7%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 3.0 points, in line with the national trend. Only two of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Birmingham
| Period | Birmingham | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 98.2% | 87.7% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 99.4% | 88.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 98.4% | 89.8% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.9% | 90.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +3.2 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Birmingham: 98.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 0.6 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Only four of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Birmingham
| Period | Birmingham | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.9% | 12.7% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.3% | 12.8% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.3% | 6.8% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 6.7% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −5.9 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Birmingham runs below the national rate: 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Birmingham compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 2.37 | 42.9 | 6.0% | 23.3% | 9.0% | 1963 | $1,967 | 77.7% | 98.9% | 4.2% |
| Beverly Hills | 2.57 | 45.5 | 6.2% | 5.3% | 6.9% | 1960 | $2,211 | 77.5% | 98.9% | 1.6% |
| Clawson | 2.04 | 41.2 | 7.5% | 24.6% | 4.2% | 1958 | $1,355 | 45.2% | 96.3% | 5.3% |
| Berkley | 2.26 | 38.3 | 5.6% | 12.1% | 5.9% | 1950 | $1,684 | 58.9% | 98.6% | 2.2% |
| Bloomfield Hills | 2.62 | 47.4 | 4.9% | 13.2% | 6.5% | 1970 | $2,238 | 77.7% | 98.4% | 3.4% |
| Lathrup Village | 2.52 | 46.4 | 2.3% | 8.5% | 4.2% | 1956 | $1,449 | 56.5% | 95.4% | 4.4% |
| Bingham Farms | 3.51 | 65.1 | 5.2% | 3.5% | 5.5% | 1983 | $3,368 | 69.3% | 93.9% | 1.1% |
| Royal Oak | 2.04 | 39.1 | 6.3% | 32.0% | 7.2% | 1956 | $1,516 | 64.4% | 97.2% | 3.6% |
| Franklin | 2.47 | 48.9 | 2.6% | 2.6% | 7.9% | 1959 | $3,216 | 79.5% | 97.3% | 1.7% |
| Southfield | 2.25 | 43.6 | 10.5% | 46.6% | 9.1% | 1969 | $1,431 | 40.3% | 94.7% | 6.8% |
| Huntington Woods | 2.69 | 45.5 | 4.5% | 3.9% | 4.4% | 1952 | $2,493 | 83.9% | 99.2% | 1.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Panama City Beach, FL · Lebanon, MO · Lucedale, MS · Monroe, WA · Newtown Square, PA · Nogales, AZ · North Salt Lake, UT · North Tustin, CA · Ottawa, IL · Palm Valley, FL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Birmingham. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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