Whether you want to call it by its nickname, “The Magic City,” or just by its name, Birmingham, AL, is often considered a great destination to relocate to in the South. From soul food, one-of-a-kind white BBQ sauce, and banana pudding, to its easy access to all Alabama has to offer, it shouldn’t come as a surprise nearly 210,000 people call Birmingham home. If you’re considering living in Birmingham, it’s important to keep in mind that the median home sale price is $250,000 and the average rent price of a 2-bedroom apartment in Birmingham is $1,190.
If those price tags don’t fit into your budget, don’t worry. We’ve collected the 10 most affordable Birmingham suburbs to consider moving to. And the best part is that they’re all less than 35 minutes away from the city center. That way you can live close to Birmingham and all its cool activities without the price tag of living there.
#1: Brighton
Median home price: $69,000
Driving distance from Birmingham: 15 minutes
Brighton, AL homes for sale
Brighton, AL apartments for rent
With a median home sale price nearly $180K less than Birmingham, Brighton lands the number one spot on our list of most affordable Birmingham suburbs. About 15 minutes away from downtown Birmingham, Brighton is home to roughly 2,700 people. Living in Brighton, you can spend time exploring Roosevelt City Recreation Center or playing a round of golf at the nearby Woodward Golf & Country Club.
#2: Fairfield
Median home price: $82,094
Driving distance from Birmingham: 10 minutes
Fairfield, AL homes for sale
Fairfield, AL apartments for rent
Fairfield takes the second spot on our list, with home prices about $170K less than in Birmingham. Just about 10 minutes away from Birmingham, you’ll be visiting the animals at the Birmingham Zoo in no time. Living in Fairfield, make sure to visit Wylam Park or have dinner at one of the many local restaurants.
#3: Graysville
Median home price: $113,000
Driving distance from Birmingham: 20 minutes
Graysville, AL homes for sale
Graysville, AL apartments for rent
Graysville takes the third spot on our list, with a median home sale price of $113,000 and only a 20-minute drive away from Birmingham. Even with a population of about 2,000, there are plenty of fun things to do in Graysville. If you move to the third most affordable suburb, make sure to visit Mountain View Golf Course to play some golf or have a spend the night camping at Brookside City Campground.
#4: Adamsville
Median home price: $137,000
Driving distance from Birmingham: 20 minutes
Adamsville, AL homes for sale
Adamsville, AL apartments for rent
Only slightly more expensive than Graysville is Adamsville, the next suburb on our list. With a population close to 4,000, there’s still plenty to do in this Birmingham suburb. Plan to spend the day at Adamsville Bark Park or Adamsville Blackwell Park for a great time. And weekend trips into downtown Birmingham won’t take you too long, only about 20 if you’re lucky to catch a traffic-free drive.
#5: Hueytown
Median home price: $155,000
Driving distance from Birmingham: 20 minutes
Hueytown, AL homes for sale
Hueytown, AL apartments for rent
Hueytown, the fifth-best Birmingham suburb on our list, is located just 20 minutes southwest of the heart of the city. Home to 17,000 residents you’ll find plenty that makes this town charming and worth moving to. From spending the afternoon at Hueytown Park & Recreation to grabbing some local BBQ, you’ll always find something new to do here.
#6: Fultondale
Median home price: $224,000
Driving distance from Birmingham: 10 minutes
Fultondale, AL homes for sale
Fultondale, AL apartments for rent
Drive 10 minutes outside of Birmingham and you’ll find the suburb of Fultondale, another great area to add to your list. Home to 9,500 residents, this affordable town can be a great choice for people looking to remain close to Birmingham without paying the price for a home in the city. In Fultondale, you’ll find Black Creek Park and its many hiking trails.
#7: Pinson
Median home price: $228,950
Driving distance from Birmingham: 25 minutes
Pinson, AL homes for sale
Pinson, AL apartments for rent
Seventh on the list is another well-known Birmingham suburb, Pinson, where you’ll find the home prices are about $20K less than in Birmingham. With roughly 7,000 people calling Pinson home, it’s a great area to consider renting or buying a home in. There are lots of activities to do in this suburb like checking out Pinson Bicentennial Park, among many other local favorites.
#8: Pleasant Grove
Median home price: $230,000
Driving distance from Birmingham: 15 minutes
Pleasant Grove, AL homes for sale
Pleasant Grove, AL apartments for rent
Claiming the eighth spot on our list of affordable Birmingham suburbs is Pleasant Grove, which is almost 15 minutes away from downtown. With a population of about 9,500 residents, living in Pleasant Grove is a great alternative to Birmingham’s hustle and bustle. If you’re going to call this area home, plan time to explore Pleasant Grove Park.
#9: Leeds
Median home price: $231,000
Driving distance from Birmingham: 20 minutes
Leeds, AL homes for sale
Leeds, AL apartments for rent
Just 20 minutes east of Birmingham you’ll find the suburb of Leeds. If you’re considering moving to this Birmingham suburb, make sure to stop by Leeds Memorial Park for a picnic. Don’t miss out on seeing the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum which is home to over 1,200 racecars and motorcycles as well as the racetrack at Barber Motorsports Park.
#10: Argo
Median home price: $250,000
Driving distance from Birmingham: 30 minutes
Argo, AL homes for sale
Argo, AL apartments for rent
Rounding out our list of Birmingham suburbs is Argo. While the home prices are the same as in Birmingham, the homes are often larger or you can find acreage to build your own home. About 4,500 people live in Argo, so you’ll have a fraction of Birmingham’s population while remaining only 30 minutes from the city. Make sure to check out the Argo Walking Trail once you move here.
Methodology:
Affordability is based on whether a suburb is less than the median sale price of Birmingham and under a 35-minute drive from downtown Birmingham. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during April 2022. Average rental data from Rent.com May 2022. Population data sourced from United States Census Bureau.
This post first appeared on Redfin.com. To see the original, click here.