A bustling revitalized city in the heart of Alabama
From its perch at the top of Red Mountain, a 50-ton iron statue overlooks Birmingham's skyline in the Jones Valley below. The sculpture depicts the Roman god of fire and forge, Vulcan, and symbolizes the city’s important role in iron and steel production during the Industrial Revolution. While manufacturing still plays a role in the local economy, Birmingham has since evolved into a healthcare industry hub, home to Alabama’s highest-ranking hospital. In the early 2000s, the city began revitalizing Central City and other downtown communities. Today, new entertainment venues, museums and parks are scattered between dozens of new shops and restaurants. This recent renaissance “has made the city a completely different place than it was even 10 years ago, and I mean that in the best way,” says Birmingham’s Director of Travel Media, Vickie Ashford-Thompson.
Birmingham hosts the Birmingham Art Market, which features top-rated local music.
Marconi Park is a place in Birmingham where children gather to play basketball.
Railroad Park is a 19-acre park in Birmingham, Alabama.
Magic City is the starting point of Birmingham's Rotary Trail.
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Industrial history, environmental consequences and top-rated healthcare
Birmingham is one of the only places in the world where coal, limestone and iron ore flourish together. In the 1880s, early settlers capitalized on these natural resources, establishing the city as an industrial powerhouse of the South. Iron and steel production became the backbone of the local economy by 1930. Coal mines fed the iron furnaces operating across the city. While they funneled in money and jobs, this heavy industry also caused devastating pollution across Birmingham, especially on the city's north side. Most manufacturers were forced to shut down with the passing of new environmental protection laws in the 1970s, but decades of contamination left a long-lasting stain on the 'Magic City.'
Today, North Birmingham 's soil is still infected (polluted/contaminated) with a variety of chemical toxins, and residents here experience higher cancer rates as a result. Since 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency has been working to remove these toxins and fight against the continued pollution from a few remaining industrial plants. As of 2024, these lengthy legal battles are ongoing.
Birmingham began shifting towards a knowledge-based economy in the early 2000s. The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), in Five Points South , and its top-ranking hospitals have been the main drivers of this change. Today, they are the city's largest employers, with over 28,000 staff members. Other major employers include Regions Financial Corporation, Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Alabama and McLeod Software Corporation.
Sloss Furnace serves as a constant reminder of the steel industry that helped build Birmingham.
The historic railroad still operates in downtown Birmingham along Railroad Park.
Birmingham has constructed a new overpass to improve your daily commute.
Birmingham's public transportation system has been updated.
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Steadily increasing home prices in a seller’s market
Birmingham's housing market has been slowing down over the last couple of years, says Allison Cheka, a longtime local resident and Realtor at RealtySouth. "With Covid, everything was going above asking price," Cheka says. "But when interest rates started going up in 2022, the market definitely took a turn."
Though rates are still high, Cheka says Birmingham remains a seller's market, with more homebuyers than available inventory. According to a 2024 quarterly report from the Alabama Center for Real Estate, the median home price in Birmingham is $307,690, and the average selling price is $375,684. These numbers are nearly 20% higher than the 5-year quarterly average. With higher prices, homes are staying on the market longer. The same 2024 report states that most homes sell within 31 days of listing, 24% longer than the 5-year quarterly average.
These trends hold true for historic neighborhoods like Glen Iris and suburbs like Crestwood North and Bluff Park. In the Smithfield community, investors are buying lower-priced vacant homes and flipping them. Due to heavy pollution, properties on the north and west ends of Birmingham typically go far below the median price. Meanwhile, golf course communities like Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills are significantly more expensive than the rest of the city, with many homes selling for over $1 million.
The John A. Hand Building, located in birmingham, opened in 1912.
The Johnston Lofts is a condominium complex in Birmingham.
Admire the various styles of houses in Birmingham.
Many homes in Birmingham have delightful front porches.
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History, entertainment and new parks in Downtown Birmingham
Once the epicenter of Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous Birmingham campaign, the Civil Rights District in Fountain Heights is now home to a collection of historic landmarks and museums spread across six downtown city blocks. It centers around Kelly Ingram Park, a 4-acre green space where some of the most influential protests took place. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute sits directly across the street. It offers an immersive museum experience along with award-winning public education programs. About a block over, the Carver Theatre was originally a movie house for Black audiences during the Jim Crow Era. Today, the 500-seat venue is home to the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and hosts various events, from concerts to comedy shows.
Two additional historic concert halls, the Alabama and Lyric Theatres, are right down the road in Birmingham's Theatre District. Originally opening in the early 1900s, both venues have been completely restored and updated with modern amenities. They present hundreds of shows each year, including ballets, operas and Broadway-style musicals. The Alabama Theatre still has regular movie showings and holds the annual Sidewalk Film Festival each summer.
In 2021, a new $200 million sports venue opened in the Uptown Entertainment District. Protective Stadium is a 45,000-seat multi-use complex initially built to accommodate UAB's football team. As of 2024, the stadium is also home to the city's professional soccer franchise, Legion FC, and the Birmingham Stallions, a new team in the United Football League.
City Walk BHAM, a 31-acre linear park, opened on the north side of Downtown Birmingham in 2022. Along with a paved walking trail, the award-winning green space features a skate park, pickleball courts and an off-leash dog park, all situated under elevated highways. Railroad Park hosts a summer concert series and other annual cultural events on the other side of downtown. A bit further from all the hustle and bustle are the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and the city zoo. Red Mountain Park has 15 miles of rugged hiking trails and an award-winning dog park in the Sand Ridge neighborhood to the south.
Magic City is the starting point of Birmingham's Rotary Trail.
Railroad Park is a 19-acre park in Birmingham, Alabama.
Established in 1978, the Birmingham Jazz Hall of Fame celebrates the legacy of jazz music.
The Vulcan statue is the most giant cast iron statue in the world, located in Birmingham.
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Local restaurants, bars and shops in the Lakeview District
In the late 1800s, Birmingham's Lakeview District was founded as a summer getaway for the city's most elite residents. But today, the area has become a thriving entertainment district packed with local restaurants, bars and shops. The old Dr. Pepper syrup plant on Second Avenue is now a new-concept retail center, hosting a farmers market every Saturday in the summer. Along with boutique stores, it's home to some staple local restaurants, including the James Beard award-winning Hot and Hot Fish Club. The Lakeview District is also known for its nightlife, with Irish pubs, speakeasy bars and late-night dance clubs. There are many other dining options, from barbeque joints to trendy New American restaurants, in Uptown and the Five Points South Entertainment District. The surrounding Birmingham Metro Area has suburban shopping centers with national chains and big box stores.
A local favorite in the Lakeview District is Automatic Seafood and Oysters in Birmingham.
Enjoy happy hour at Automatic Seafood in the Lakeview District from 4pm-5pm in Birmingham.
Umami in Birmingham's Lakeview District offers delicious Asian-inspired cuisine and sushi.
Buzzy, rustic-chic eatery & bar with a patio the Ovenbird is a local hotspot in Lakeview.
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Easy commutes to Montgomery and Tuscaloosa
Two of the busiest roads in Alabama meet in the heart of Downtown Birmingham. The state's most trafficked route, Interstate 65, runs north-south and links to the capital city of Montgomery. Interstate 20 passes east-west through the city. It connects to Tuscaloosa, home of the University of Alabama. Though cars are the most common form of transit, Birmingham's Metro Area Express (MAX) Bus System offers an alternative way to get around the city. In 2022, the city introduced a new Bus Rapid Transit system called the Birmingham Xpress, which offers high-speed rides from the far east end of the city to the west. For further travel, the Birmingham Amtrak Station offers direct rides to New Orleans, Atlanta, Washington D.C. and New York City. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is another convenient option with non-stop flights to 20 U.S. cities.
Birmingham offers convenient access to the interstate, making commuting easy.
Birmingham has a public transportation system.
Catch the Amtrak train located in downtown Birmingham.
The local bus station in downtown Birmingham is state-of-the-art.
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Over 20,000 students attend Birmingham City Schools
The Birmingham City School District serves more than 20,000 students, making it one of the largest in Alabama. Niche gives the district an overall C rating, with a B-minus for diversity. It operates 20 elementary schools, seven pre-k through eighth-grade schools and eight middle schools. Its seven high schools offer nine different career academies specializing in fields ranging from the health sciences to architecture and construction. Neighboring cities like Hoover and Homewood have separate school systems that earn A-plus ratings from Niche.
J.H. Phillips Academy serves kindergarteners through eighth graders in Birmingham.
One option for education in Birmingham is the Advent Episcopal School.
A.H. Parker High School is on Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard in Birmingham.
Woodlawn High School is a public magnet school in Birmingham.
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Crime in Birmingham
According to FBI data, the city’s property and violent crime rates are higher than the national average. Birmingham experienced an overall 10.7% increase in crime during 2023, according to the Birmingham Police Department's most recent annual report.
Brent Gulledge is a dedicated real estate professional and the proud Broker/Owner of EXIT Realty Crossroads in Moody, Alabama. With a passion for helping families find their dream homes, Brent has been a top realtor in the Birmingham metro area for 2022, 2023, and 2024. His commitment to excellence has also earned him a place among the Top 100 EXIT Agents for two consecutive years.
Brent began his real estate career in 2017 and later expanded his expertise by becoming a licensed home inspector in Alabama from 2019 to 2022. His deep industry knowledge and leadership skills have led him to serve on the Movoto Pro+ Team Leader Advisory Council, where he helps shape the future of real estate professionals nationwide.
A proud graduate of Victory Christian High School in Pell City, Alabama, Brent values faith, family, and community. When he’s not closing deals, he enjoys golfing, spending time at the beach, grilling, watching football, and making memories with his wife, Morgan, and their daughter.
Brent's expertise, dedication, and client-first approach make him a trusted name in Alabama real estate. Whether you're buying or selling, he’s ready to guide you every step of the way!
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
