Thinking of Moving to Birmingham, AL? Here’s Everything You Need to Know.
One of the best parts about working at Livability is exploring our nation’s best small and mid-sized cities firsthand. I had been excited to visit Birmingham for a while, as it’s not far from where I live in Chattanooga, TN — where I’ve lived for most of my life, actually — and I had never been.
Alabama might be a neighboring state, but it still has its own vibe — friendly, laidback and, of course, some Southern drawl. That said, I spoke with plenty of residents and visitors with no Southern roots…people from all over.
What did most of them have in common? They really like it in the ‘Ham. From the people to the food to a more relaxed pace of life, it’s easy to see much of what we at Livability believe makes mid-sized cities awesome, reflected here.
Great place to grow a career and/or a family. Check.
Pretty affordable. Check.
Friendly people. Check.
Lots to do. That’s right…check!
Great place for furry friends? Check, again.
In This Article
Why Birmingham, AL, is a Great Place to Live
Often overshadowed by its larger southern counterparts, Birmingham is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. With its rich history, vibrant arts scene and growing economy, Birmingham offers a unique blend of charm, affordability and opportunity. Whether you’re looking to start a career, raise a family, or simply enjoy a slower pace of life, Birmingham has something to offer everyone.
Birmingham’s industrial legacy shows up in cool ways, blending in seamlessly with the area’s forward momentum to the future. This community is doing many things right in terms of growth, amenities, inclusion and more. A couple of my favorites are the innovative downtown public space City Walk BHAM and partnering with the state’s FuelAL program focusing on interns’ quality of life experiences.
But folks in Birmingham aren’t taking themselves too seriously and know how to have a good time. The House of Found Objects is the only bar I’ve ever been to where you can borrow silly costumes. What’s more fun than someone in a Cookie Monster costume serving cookies to patrons?
And while majestic in his own way, the city’s “mascot” — a giant iron statue of the Roman god Vulcan visible from much of the city — isn’t wearing pants.
If you ask me, that combination of levity and substance is a win when it comes to the places where we want to be. Read on for some of the best things about Birmingham.
Why Birmingham, AL, is a Great Place to Live for History Lovers
Birmingham’s history begins after the Civil War, rooted in heavy industry, giving it a different overall feel than other Southern cities founded earlier and more focused on agriculture. While this is a city today focused on forward momentum, it’s interesting to note the through lines of its industrial legacy with entities like American Cast Iron Pipe Company, McWane, CMC Steel, U.S. Steel, Nucor and Vulcan Materials Company maintaining a significant presence in Birmingham.
One of Birmingham’s coolest sites has to be the Sloss Furnaces, which turned out metric tons of pig iron back in the day — small, smelted chunks of material that would be loaded onto trains and sent all over the country to be made into steel. Hard labor went on here for about 100 years, from the 1870s to the 1970s, when the plant closed, and locals debated for several years on what to do with the site. They elected to turn it into a Historic Landmark. Free to visit, everything at Sloss has been left nearly just as it was when production stopped, or so it seems. There’s lots to explore against a backdrop that makes it easy to imagine what life might have been like for those workers toiling to provide for their families. Sloss also hosts many cool events, from concerts to casting classes, where you can create your own metal art pieces.
Of course, Civil Rights sites are an essential part of the city’s history, including 16th Street Baptist Church and the Civil Rights Institute.
Why Birmingham, AL, is a Great Place to Live for Arts Enthusiasts
Sloss Furnaces operates one of the most extensive iron arts programs worldwide, employing full-time Resident Artists for one- and three-year terms, involving local high schoolers in a summer artist apprenticeship program (yes, they get paid!) and hosting Visiting Artist Residencies.
Everybody loves a free art museum, and Birmingham has a great one in their Birmingham Museum of Art. Even many of the special exhibitions are free.
UAB’s Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts also hosts a permanent collection, special exhibits and free events. Catch a local show at the adorable Virginia Samford Theatre, enjoy the annual Artwalk festival taking over downtown for a weekend each fall or catch a film at the Sidewalk Independent Theater (Sidewalk also draws 15,000+ filmmakers to town each year for their annual film festival).
Why Birmingham, AL, is a Great Place to Live to Get a Shopping Fix
From national brands to local retailers, Birmingham is a great place to shop til you drop.
Charm is worth a stop in downtown Birmingham — TONS of affordable vintage jewelry and other goodies await. You’ll be especially charmed (get it?) by the Mystery Boxes containing a surprise vintage brooch, earrings or necklace. Shoppe, a plant and gift retailer, and General, a cafe and general store, are two other spots not to miss in the Forest Park neighborhood.
Head ‘Over the Mountain,’ where a group of suburban cities just south of Birmingham offer upscale shopping, dining and beautiful (read: aspirational) residential neighborhoods for maximum quaint cuteness. Mountain Brook Villages is a collection of three charming village centers — Mountain Brook Village, English Village and Crestline Village. Each has its own flair, and Mountain Brook Village is just up the street from both the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and the Birmingham Zoo if you’re looking for a full-day itinerary. Nearby Homewood, AL, is adorable, too, and you can fuel your shopping excursion there with a treat from the original Cookie Fix location — boy, are these cookies worth the calories (and that’s from someone not particularly big on cookies in general!)
Why Birmingham, AL, is a Great Place to Live for the Food (and Beer!) Lovers
Come on now, I think we all fall into this category. A selection of great breweries like Avondale Brewing Company, where you can also catch a concert, and Good People Brewery (don’t miss Hotbox based out front!) come through on the casual vibes. If you’re new to town, Birmingham Pedal Tours offers a Social Mixer ticket designed to help you meet like-minded folks as you see the city and imbibe. And the Beermingham Babes can help craft beer-loving gals build community here.
You’ll love The Current Charcoal Grill for Japanese cuisine and something that feels upscale. Get a great Italian meal at La Fresca or Trattoria ZaZa. Red Cat Coffee’s grits bowl is drool-worthy with the perfect toppings, like scrambled eggs cut into tiny cubes. Juniper in the cute Forest Park neighborhood has an Instagram-worthy Victorian-style decor, including an antique couch repurposed as a swing (pictured above).
And you’re sure to find even more gems than those mentioned here.
Why Birmingham, AL, is a Great Place to Live for Outdoor Adventurers
Birmingham has a lot of parks — whether you prefer an oasis in or near the city, or that full-scale hike you might have to head out a little farther to get to, like Red Mountain Park and Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve. Some good options downtown or nearby include Vulcan Park (home of the aforementioned Vulcan mascot), beautiful Railroad Park and the peaceful Rotary Trail.
If you’re looking to enjoy some fresh air while meeting new friends, the BHAM Babes Walking Club might be for you.