36109 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
35235
36109
Opportunity
39 · Bottom 20%
vs41 · Bottom 23%
Growth
43 · Bottom 38%
vs53 · Top 46%
Climate
74 · Top 34%
vs71 · Top 48%
Physical resilience
59 · Top 49%
vs57 · Bottom 49%
Housing affordability
79 · Bottom 49%
vs88 · Top 36%
Access
97 · Top 32%
vs96 · Top 34%
Economic stability
37 · Bottom 16%
vs40 · Bottom 19%
Measured values
| Metric | 35235 | 36109 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,526 | 23,581 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $63,295 | $59,193 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,084 | $32,625 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,521/sq mi | 2,081/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $194,500 | $140,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,404 | $1,142 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.5% | 64.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 4.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -2.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.1% | 28.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 20.8% | 16.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 591 | 523 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.0 | 2.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 33.1% | 101.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 35°F | 37°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 56.6" | 51.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 7 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 22.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.6 | 38.0 | 2024 ACS 5-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
35235
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
36109
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: 35235 — Birmingham, AL · 36109 — Montgomery, AL · How this is calculated: methodology