Birmingham, AL Reviews

Great School Systems - 7/15/2010
As a school teacher, it is nice to live in a town with lots of options for education! We have several great public school systems to choose from: Mt. Brook, Vestavia, Hoover and Shelby County are all great systems for any family. The teachers are really dedicated to their students and the community is really involved in the local schools! Sadly, you don't find that everywhere you go. Families can find housing in all price ranges in these different communities as well! Read More

Is Birmingham Right For Me? - 6/28/2010
I am someone who would like to live in the South, and I am considering Birmingham, but I'm not sure if it's the right place for me.
I prefer warm, humid summers and mild winters (very little snow and only a few days where the temperature would be close to freezing).
I am a current college student who is considering majoring in psychology. How would the job situation be with trying to find a job in this field?
I like to see wildlife, especially alligators, snakes and turtles. I also like to fish.
I am a United Methodist Christian, and I would probably go to church every Sunday if I find a church I really like.
Thank you in advance for any responses to my Read More

cost of living - 7/13/2009
cost of Read More

Birmingham Al - 5/11/2009
extremely corrupt government in Birmingham Al and jefferson Cty, read about the Jeffeson Cty sewer mess and the indictments againt Mayor Read More

Birmingham? Not bad--I guess. - 9/22/2008
I moved to Birmingham from central Texas recently, and while I like the area, I am looking forward to moving home to Texas. The areas are so drastically different--from street to street. I had the hugest challenge in finding somewhere to live based on the horrific crime rates. While the area offers pretty views in the trees and rolling hills, much of the 'city' portion of Birmingham is forgotten, as the majority of buildings appear to be falling apart or seriously condemned. People are nice enough, although don't tend to go out of their ways to offer a simple smile in passing or anything--keep in mind, I don't think this is anything crazy, being from Texas and all! :) The overall religious backlash is a bit too much as well--I'm a very spiritual person, but the overload of conservative mindset behind modern issues is too Mayberry for me. It is 2008, after all. It's not a bad place to be, if you're a family, desiring a life in a suburbia, full of small-town activities and church Read More

If you really love sprawl... - 5/12/2008
Birmingham is the place for you. I grew up in this city and as a teenager in the suburbs did not enjoy it much. There seems to be a stark economic dynamic between the urban and rural areas. The old industrial urban downtown is notoriously impovershed and plagued with crime. On the other hand the suburbs, mostly of shelby county, for as long as I remember have been at an insanely rapid state of growth. This development and sprawl constantly cuts into the natural beauty of the area and replaces it with high-end shopping, a bounty of strip malls and monsterous churches. Speaking of which you MUST own a vehicle to get anywhere. This of course created serious traffic problems in my area. The car dependency and hot days also culminates into serious pollution issues. What they called "ozone alert days" are a common occurance. The whole culture of the birmingham metro area seems to be one of consummerism and suburban isolation. But if this is your thing then join in on the great southern Read More

Weather - 2/10/2008
The weather here is very warm, even during the winter Read More

Education - 9/1/2007
If you plan on moving to Birmingham, AL with children or to have children then you should plan ahead to living in an area where they'll get an quality education from elementary to high school. So far, I've been here 2 years, and I have NEVER heard of schools being closed down, with children still attending. Literally, kids being moved from another elementary school in the middle or toward the end (can't remember month) of their term. It's not impossible or unbelievable, but there are so many empty school around Jefferson County it is sad! People have to literally move out from the downtown area of Birmingham AL or areas very close by, in order to put their child in school or a decent school. It is not the family's fault 98% of the time that they live in that undeveloped area, but the city is not focused on that problem. They cannot get teachers to stay put, and who can blame them. They have to survive also on what little they receive, regardless of how big their heart is for Read More

Birmingham is great - 5/15/2007
I have lived here since Jan 2001, and have grown to love it. It has all the big city stuff, but still a small-town flavor. Everyone is generally nice and helpful, and the weather is good most year-round. The best schools and housing is found generally along and south of Red Mountain in the suburbs. Traffic is never too bad, just thick from 7-8 am and 5-6 pm.

Lots of great restaurants, shopping, clubs, and for the family-oriented: Churches and Oak Mountain State Park, a diamond of a facility. Area police are dependable and professional, and health care is superb. Only bad areas are the areas north of I 59-20. Jobless rate is almost non-existent. If we could just get the elected officials to get some things done, it would be outstanding. I rate birmingham a 8 on a 10 Read More

Great outdoor activity just around the corner - 4/17/2007
Birmingham is surprisingly outdoor-activity friendly, with a great state park just a few miles south of Read More