35206 and 35208 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
35206
35208
Opportunity
31 · Bottom 10%
vs30 · Bottom 8%
Growth
43 · Bottom 38%
vs43 · Bottom 38%
Climate
74 · Top 34%
vs74 · Top 34%
Physical resilience
59 · Top 49%
vs59 · Top 49%
Housing affordability
68 · Bottom 33%
vs69 · Bottom 34%
Access
97 · Top 32%
vs98 · Top 21%
Economic stability
27 · Bottom 6%
vs18 · Bottom 2%
Measured values
| Metric | 35206 | 35208 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,621 | 13,412 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $42,549 | $38,561 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $25,470 | $23,809 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,554/sq mi | 3,651/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $153,500 | $97,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,024 | $1,031 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 48.9% | 64.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 4.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.5% | 20.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 23.7% | 23.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 591 | 591 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.0 | 3.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 33.1% | 33.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 35°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 56.6" | 56.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 2 mi | 9 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.6 min | 23.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.6 | 43.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 5 | 4 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 19.63 | 16.85 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 74.1% | 76.1% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
35206
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
35208
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Full profiles: 35206 — Birmingham, AL · 35208 — Birmingham, AL · How this is calculated: methodology