Politics & Government

Census Survey Says Birmingham Residents Have High Incomes, Advanced Degrees

The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, which recently released data from 2007-11, offers a look at small cities across the country, including Birmingham.

What has it been like to live in Birmingham for the past four years?

Well, acording to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median income for Birmingham households is more than $90,000 a year and most of those residents are driving to work by themselves. Thirty-six percent have a bachelor's degree and more than 5,000 under the age of 18 are enrolled in school.

That kind of information and more was recently released as part of the 2007-11 results from the American Community Survey, conducted annually by the U.S. Census Bureau.

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The survey results are used to help guide policy decisions and funding allocations by state and local governments. The American Community Survey is randomly sent to approximately 3 million Americans every year.

"By telling the story of our towns and neighborhoods, the American Communty Survey helps planners locate schools and firehouses," said Thomas Mesenbourg, the Census Bureau's acting director in a press release.

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"Thanks to the cooperaton of the public, the Census Bureau produces reliable, quality statistical information for even small communities in the U.S.," he added.

Those smaller communities include Birmingham. According to the survey, there are 8,761 households in Birmingham — aproximately 64 percent of which are families. Around 30 percent have children under 18.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Birmingham's population is officially 20,103, up 4.2 percent from 2000's count of 19,291.

What kind of snapshot does the American Community Survey present of Birmingham? For more information, visit the U.S. Census Bureau's Fact Finder website.

People

  • Women make up more than 50 percent of Birmingham's population.
  • The largest population of Birmingham residents are between 45-54 years old, followed by 35-44 year olds. The median age is 41.4.
  • Of Birmingham residents, 90 percent are white, 5.4 percent are black, 2.4 percent are Asian and another 2.4 percent are listed as Hispanic or Latino.
  • The largest percentage of Birimingham residents claim a German ancestry (22.3 percent), followed by Irish (15.4 percent) and English (12.8 percent).

Work

  • Twenty-one percent of Birmingham households reported an annual income, plus benefits, of $200,000 or more.
  • The median household income in Birmingham is $92,717 a year. The average is $143,661 a year.
  • Of the civilian employed population (meaning, not employed in the Armed Forces), 68 percent report working in management, business, science and the arts. Twenty percent report working in sales or other office jobs.
  • Meanwhile, 88 percent of workers over age 16 said they drive alone to work while 4.9 percent carpooled. The third largest group said they work from home and don't commute.

Schools

  • There are 5,320 young people age three years old and older enrolled in school in Birmingham. The greatest percentage of those students — 42 percent — are in elementary school.
  • Thirty-eight percent of Birmingham residents age 25 years and older have at least a bachelor's degree. A close 37 percent have some kind of graduate or professional degree.

Housing

  • Ten percent of Birmingham homes are vacant.
  • Around 76 percent of Birmingham homes are owned while 24 percent are occupied by renters.
  • Nearly 30 percent of Birmingham homes were built between 1950-59.
  • Approximately 19,848 Birmingham residents have lived in their homes for more than a year. Of those that moved to the city, 371 moved from out of state while 137 moved here from another country.
  • More than 40 percent of residents moved into their Birmingham homes in 2005 or later.


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