NAICS 53

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing in Birmingham, AL

Metro Market Score 51.5 (Challenging), ranked #227 of 330 metros. 1,672 establishments, 7,759 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 51.5
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Challenging

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national real estate and rental and leasing average.

💰High-Cost Market

Birmingham pairs above-average real estate and rental and leasing concentration (73.0) with positive employment growth (trend: 71.2). The market is competitive but still expanding, leaving room for well-positioned new entrants.

Industry Concentration
73.0
LQ: 0.97
Rank #241 of 330 metros
Wage Competitiveness
90.6
$75,037 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 71.2
Employment growth index
Rank #96 of 330 metros
Wage Pressure
10.0
YoY wage change index

1,672 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing Firms in Birmingham

1,672
Establishments
+3.9% YoY
7,759
Total Employment
+3.2% YoY
$75,037
Average Annual Wage
-1.7% YoY
0.97
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Birmingham vs Alabama Statewide

How this metro's real estate and rental and leasing market compares to Alabama overall. The state ranks #13/51 for entry risk.

Measure Birmingham AL Statewide
Overall Score 51.5 Challenging 31.9 Moderate
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #227 of 330 metros #13 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Birmingham

Accommodation and Food Services 43.8 Information 50.3 Retail Trade 51.8 Construction 52.6 Other Services 66.8 Finance and Insurance 67.1

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing in Other Alabama Metros

Decatur 18.2 #17/330 Anniston-Oxford 18.4 #19/330 Auburn-Opelika 25.5 #44/330 Florence-Muscle Shoals 26.8 #51/330 Gadsden 28.8 #61/330 Huntsville 40.2 #139/330 Dothan 41.1 #153/330 Mobile 60.5 #277/330 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley 64.4 #297/330

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Birmingham's real estate and rental and leasing sector, the wage competitiveness component (90.6) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.