1st Advantage MortgageAbout 64% of Jefferson County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $66,388. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Jefferson County, AL: the basics
- Work, industries and travel time in Jefferson County
- Income in Jefferson County compared with Alabama
- What it costs to live in Jefferson County
- Towns and communities in Jefferson County
- Counties near Jefferson County
- Who lives in Jefferson County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Jefferson County borrowers
- Debt-to-income at Jefferson County's medians
- Before you sign
- Licensing and complaints for Jefferson County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Jefferson County, AL: the basics
Roughly 667,755 residents live in Jefferson County, Alabama, 1st by population among the state's 67 counties and county equivalents. It covers 1,112 square miles of land, or about 601 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Birmingham, AL metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Birmingham is the biggest of its 40 Census places, at roughly 198,173 people (30% of the county total).
Work, industries and travel time in Jefferson County
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 11%. Education and health care stands out: 26% of workers here, versus 23% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Jefferson County averages 4.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 7.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Jefferson County share | +/- vs Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.8% | +3.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | -0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.7% | +0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.7% | -5.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.7% | +3.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +0.6 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Jefferson County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Income in Jefferson County compared with Alabama
At $66,388, the typical Jefferson County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 9 Alabama counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Jefferson County | Difference from Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.0% | -1.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.4% | -0.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.1% | -0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.5% | +2.7 pts |
About 27% of households earn under $35,000, while 33% clear $100,000. Census counts 15.7% of Jefferson County residents in poverty, against 15.6% across Alabama. For a borrower in Jefferson County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
What it costs to live in Jefferson County
Renters in Jefferson County pay a median of $1,193 a month, 18% above the Alabama figure of $1,007. By the Census definition, 54% of Jefferson County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $240,000, about 3.6 times the median household income. Owners occupy 64% of homes. Median construction year: 1975.
| Cost | Jefferson County | Alabama figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,193/mo | $1,007/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $240,000 | $209,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 64% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.1% | 12.3% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Towns and communities in Jefferson County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 40 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 76% of Jefferson County residents live in one of the 40. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $38,221 in Brighton to $201,479 in Mountain Brook. Median rent ranges from $656 in Brighton to $2,240 in Clay. Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Jefferson County community.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | city | 198,173 | $46,051 | $1,107 | 6 mi |
| Vestavia Hills | city | 38,616 | $134,369 | $1,515 | 11 mi |
| Homewood | city | 27,829 | $94,485 | $1,463 | 8 mi |
| Bessemer | city | 25,400 | $39,613 | $961 | 13 mi |
| Mountain Brook | city | 22,029 | $201,479 | $1,456 | 10 mi |
| Gardendale | city | 16,534 | $82,192 | $1,299 | 10 mi |
| Hueytown | city | 16,414 | $62,784 | $1,304 | 12 mi |
| Center Point | city | 15,914 | $56,417 | $1,218 | 14 mi |
| Irondale | city | 13,464 | $72,343 | $1,320 | 14 mi |
| McCalla | CDP | 13,253 | $87,468 | $1,777 | 19 mi |
| Leeds | city | 12,028 | $69,737 | $1,058 | 19 mi |
| Clay | city | 10,273 | $81,920 | $2,240 | 19 mi |
| Forestdale | CDP | 9,742 | $66,569 | $1,203 | 1 mi |
| Fairfield | city | 9,728 | $48,456 | $1,008 | 6 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Counties near Jefferson County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 40 miles). Shelby County leads the group on income ($97,961), Bibb County trails ($52,541), and Jefferson County out-earns 4 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | - | $66,388 | $1,193/mo | 64% |
| Shelby County, AL | 24 mi | $97,961 | $1,401/mo | 81% |
| Walker County, AL | 28 mi | $56,509 | $756/mo | 76% |
| Blount County, AL | 35 mi | $64,190 | $776/mo | 81% |
| St. Clair County, AL | 36 mi | $77,463 | $1,084/mo | 83% |
| Bibb County, AL | 39 mi | $52,541 | $733/mo | 79% |
| Cullman County, AL | 40 mi | $62,656 | $908/mo | 77% |
Who lives in Jefferson County, in numbers
Degree holders: 36% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 9.4%, against 9.2% for Alabama.
| Measure | Jefferson County | Alabama statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 39.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 36.2% | 28.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.8% | 11.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.4% | 9.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.7% | 15.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Jefferson County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 46.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.1% |
| 60+ min | 4.2% |
What the numbers mean for Jefferson County borrowers
A few patterns in the Jefferson County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Rent squeeze. 54% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Debt-to-income at Jefferson County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Jefferson County's medians:
- $66,388 a year is $5,532 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,193 uses 22%
- $1,186: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Jefferson County:
- Price the Jefferson County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Alabama.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Licensing and complaints for Jefferson County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Jefferson County resident can confirm its license with the Alabama State Banking Department. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Alabama state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
City guides inside Jefferson County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Jefferson County?
$66,388 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $63,999 for Alabama. It ranks 10th of 67 in the state.
How does Jefferson County rent compare with Alabama?
$1,193 locally versus $1,007 for the state, 18% above.
Does this page cover Birmingham?
Yes, along with the other 39 Census places in Jefferson County, such as Vestavia Hills, Homewood, Bessemer.
Does living in Jefferson County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Jefferson County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Jefferson County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Alabama it is the Alabama State Banking Department.