The Town FilesBirmingham, Michigan
City in Oakland County · population 21,813 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $698,300
- Household income
- $153,510
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 41.8
Birmingham is a city of 21,813 people in Oakland County, Michigan. The median home is worth $698,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more vibrant than 99% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 99% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 98% of Michigan towns.
How Birmingham ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Birmingham is worth $698,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $153,510, which is more affordable than 4% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,902 a month. 77.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Birmingham | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $698,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,902 | $955 |
| Median household income | $153,510 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 77.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.6% | — |
Who lives in Birmingham
| People | Birmingham | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 76.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 2.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.2% | — |
| Work from home | 26.3% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Birmingham
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 33.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Birmingham since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 20, 1976 about 5.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 58 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 14, 1990.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 2, 1983.
Severe weather in Oakland County since 1996
Oakland County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 25, 2014 | Flood | DR-4195: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Oakland County
Oakland County had 723,862 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,917 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Birmingham itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Birmingham
4 public schools with 2,647 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ernest W Seaholm High School | 9-12 | 1,154 | 14.6 |
| Derby Middle School | 6-8 | 613 | 14.6 |
| Pierce Elementary School | PK-5 | 514 | 16.6 |
| Quarton Elementary | PK-5 | 366 | 13.6 |
Towns near Birmingham
- Beverly Hills, MI2.0 mi · 10,584 people · home $511,000
- Bloomfield Hills, MI2.9 mi · 4,460 people · home $947,900
- Southfield, MI3.0 mi · 14,886 people · home $544,100
- Clawson, MI3.4 mi · 11,389 people · home $267,100
- Berkley, MI3.6 mi · 15,194 people · home $316,700
- Lathrup Village, MI3.7 mi · 4,088 people · home $310,600
- Bloomfield, MI3.7 mi · 44,253 people · home $604,800
- Royal Oak, MI4.1 mi · 58,211 people · home $328,700
Birmingham questions
Is Birmingham, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Birmingham scores better for retirees than 58% of Michigan towns and quieter than 6%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in Birmingham?
The median owner-occupied home in Birmingham is valued at $698,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $153,510, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $1,902 a month.
What is the weather like in Birmingham?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.9 inches of precipitation a year and 36.0 inches of snow.
Does Birmingham get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Birmingham since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 20, 1976. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)