Birmingham multifamily market, October 2026

Landlords have the edge in Birmingham, and it is holding steady: asking rents are up 2.4% on a year, while jobs grew 1.2%.

Updated October 31, 2026 · from Zillow, BLS and the US Census Bureau

+2.4%

Asking rent, year over year

Zillow · September 2026

+1.2%

Jobs, year over year

BLS · September 2026, preliminary

6.5%YEARLY

Vacancy

Census · 2024 count

What is moving now

Asking rents are up 2.4% on a year to September 2026, which is the figure the condition is read from. Jobs are up 1.2% over the same year to September 2026, a first release the BLS revises the following month. Nothing is pulling hard either way in the latest figures (September 2026).

The backdrop

These are yearly Census counts, not this month's: 6.5% of rentals sat empty in 2024, permits for new apartments were up 94% in 2025, more people moved in than out in 2025, and the typical rent was $1,262 a month in 2024. They are the background the monthly figures move against, and they are the newest the Census has published.

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Common questions about Birmingham

Answered from the data, updated October 31, 2026

Is the Birmingham rental market tight or soft right now?

In Birmingham right now, landlords have the edge, and it is stable.

Which way is the Birmingham market heading?

Birmingham is stable right now, as asking rents firm over the past year (Zillow ZORI, monthly).

Is Birmingham a landlord's or a renter's market?

Birmingham is a landlord's market right now: landlords have the edge, and it is stable.

What is the vacancy rate in Birmingham?

Vacancy in Birmingham is 6.5% in the 2024 count, a yearly snapshot rather than a monthly reading (US Census Bureau).

How much have Birmingham rents changed?

Asking rents in Birmingham are up 2.4% over the past year (Zillow ZORI, monthly, latest Sep 2026).

Recent coverage

Daily, from the MetroSgnl news feed. Headlines only.

Developer sues Alabama city over blocked apartment project, alleges discriminationAL.com

Samford University hits record enrollment as Homewood considers housing expansionAL.com

Inside Birmingham, AL’s Real Estate Boom: Why 35213 Is Among America’s Hottest MarketsRealtor.com

Birmingham approves housing dealAlabama Political Reporter

National developer lines up apartment project in fast-growing Birmingham, Alabama, suburbCoStar

Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in AlabamaStacker

See all Birmingham news →

Data: Zillow ZORI, BLS, US Census Bureau, FRED, and the MetroSgnl news feed. Recomputed daily. Market information only, not investment advice.
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