36104 and 35212 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
36104
35212
Opportunity
36 · Bottom 15%
vs34 · Bottom 13%
Growth
53 · Top 46%
vs43 · Bottom 38%
Climate
71 · Top 48%
vs74 · Top 34%
Physical resilience
57 · Bottom 49%
vs59 · Top 49%
Housing affordability
55 · Bottom 17%
vs48 · Bottom 11%
Access
97 · Top 32%
vs97 · Top 32%
Economic stability
12 · Bottom 1%
vs29 · Bottom 7%
Measured values
| Metric | 36104 | 35212 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,535 | 10,160 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $33,823 | $36,633 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $26,607 | $29,623 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,008/sq mi | 1,641/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $172,700 | $232,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $777 | $841 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 24.6% | 44.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.2% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.0% | 34.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 42.5% | 37.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 523 | 591 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.6 | 3.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 101.2% | 33.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 94°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 37°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 51.2" | 56.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 8 mi | 1 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 15.8 min | 21.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.2 | 33.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 2 | 4 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.17 | 20.60 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 56.3% | 81.4% | 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
36104
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
35212
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Full profiles: 36104 — Montgomery, AL · 35212 — Birmingham, AL · How this is calculated: methodology