Birmingham is diverse.
Among the roughly 1.15 million residents of the greater Birmingham- Hoover metro area, about 29% are black, 4% are Hispanic, and 1% are Asian, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data. Women make up nearly 52% of the population.
Birmingham is artsy.
Arts and culture in the city are supported by multiple museums, including several devoted to the civil rights struggles of Birmingham’s past, along with numerous galleries, music & arts festivals, multiple performance theatres, live music venues, a ballet, a symphony orchestra, an opera, a School of Fine Arts, and a Jazz Hall of Fame.
Birmingham is progressive.
In 2018, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin was selected to join the NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders), a 150-person national network of state and local leaders working to expand opportunity and enact pro-growth progressive solutions.
A section of the beautiful Ross Bridge subdivision, in Birmingham’s suburbs, is a federal “smart neighborhood.” These homes are 35% more energy efficient than comparable new homes, with a nearby solar panel field, integrated battery storage, electric vehicle charging stations in each garage, high-efficiency heating and cooling, and app control of things such as door locks and window shades.
Birmingham is smart.
In April 2019, MarketWatch named Birmingham the No. 2 up-and-coming tech Mecca in the nation, thanks in part to the presence of tech and small business startup incubator The Innovation Depot and its Velocity Accelerator program. The city is home to leading grocery delivery service Shipt, which was purchased by Target Corp. in 2017 for $550 million.
Metro Birmingham boasts some outstanding schools. The Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia, Spain Park, and Oak Mountain school systems are ranked among the best in Alabama and easily compete with other public school systems in the country.
Birmingham is proud.
The SHOUT LGBTQ Film Festival, created in 2006 by organizers of Birmingham’s nationally recognized Sidewalk Film Festival, features documentaries and short films by new and established artists and offers attendees the opportunity to view topics of interest to the LGBTQ community.
UAB Medicine, one of the city’s largest and most diverse employers, draws medical and research professionals from around the world, and in 2018 we received the “LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
Birmingham is tasty.
We are a foodie town. In 2018, Highlands Bar and Grill won the prestigious James Beard Foundation Award for the Most Outstanding Restaurant in America, thanks to its highly acclaimed French-inspired dishes and regional southern flavors.
From lowcountry boils and barbecue to five-star fare, Birmingham’s active restaurant scene includes multiple dining districts that feature cuisine from around the world and from our own backyard and Gulf Coast.
Birmingham is competitive.
U.S. News & World Report ranks Birmingham No. 89 on its 2019 “Best Places to Live” list.
With a cost of living index rating of 79 and a median home cost of less than $204,000, living in the Birmingham area is less expensive than the national average.
Birmingham is fun.
Downtown Birmingham has enjoyed an epic revitalization in recent years, with the advent of numerous residential, retail, craft brewery, sporting, music, and outdoor entertainment developments.
Two professional or minor league sports teams put down roots in the city center in the past decade.
With its proximity to many state and national parks, lakes, urban greenspaces, hiking and biking trails, and easy access to both beaches and mountains within a few hours’ drive, Birmingham is an excellent place to live, work, and raise a family.
