How much does it cost to rent in Birmingham, MI?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Birmingham, MI is $3,221. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Birmingham cheaper than other Michigan cities?

Birmingham is one of the pricier cities in Michigan, ranking #1 out of 95 cities tracked at $3,221/mo.

When was Birmingham rent data last updated?

Birmingham rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · MI

Birmingham

Name: Average Rent Prices in Birmingham, MI
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 21,763·1st most expensive in Michigan·Birmingham rents are up 9.6% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$3,221/mo

Year-over-Year

+9.6%

Month-over-Month

+1.8%

vs US Median

+$1,256

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Birmingham · $3,221

More expensive than 93% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

70/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 10% below what Birmingham's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$3,221/mo

Expected by trend

$3,575/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Birmingham's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,490

1 BR

$1,640

2 BR

$2,070

3 BR

$2,540

4 BR+

$2,740

Research median

$2,070/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$38,652/yr

At $3,221/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 9.6% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+9.6% YoY, +1.8% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Birmingham, MI is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 76.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

21,763

Median income

$153,510

Median age

41.8

Renters

22.9%

Age distribution

25.4%

13.5%

28.7%

14.3%

18.2%

Under 1825.4%

18–3413.5%

35–5428.7%

55–6414.3%

65+18.2%

Gender

48.8%

51.2%

Male48.8%

Female51.2%

Race & ethnicity

84.5%

White84.5%

Black2.8%

Hispanic4.4%

Asian5%

Other3.2%

Education (25+)

16.2%

76.7%

No HS diploma1.2%

HS diploma5.9%

Some college16.2%

Bachelor's+76.7%

Housing tenure

77.1%

22.9%

Owner77.1%

Renter22.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Birmingham, MI has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,379 → $3,221

up 35.4%

Income

$137,907 → $153,510

up 11.3%

Population

21,728 → 21,763

up 0.2%

Renter share

25.2% → 22.9%

-2.3 pts

Bachelor's+

77.1% → 76.7%

-0.4 pts

Median age

42.3 → 41.8

-0.5 yrs

Five years ago, renters in Birmingham, MI paid around $2,379 a month. That figure now sits near $3,221, up 35.4% from the 2021 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $153,510 today, compared with $137,907 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. The renter share has eased from 25.2% to 22.9%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

Discussions about Birmingham

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View Birmingham rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Birmingham on your salary?

At $3,221/mo, how Birmingham rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $90,701/yr · Rent = 42.6% income

rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $64,397/yr · Rent = 60% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $74,179/yr · Rent = 52.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $132,586/yr · Rent = 29.2% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $169,411/yr · Rent = 22.8% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $60,298/yr · Rent = 64.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $54,442/yr · Rent = 71% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $67,104/yr · Rent = 57.6% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Birmingham rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Birmingham. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Birmingham

About renting in Birmingham, MI

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Birmingham is $3,221/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,490/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,070/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,640/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,540/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($153,510/yr), Birmingham ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Birmingham an affordable city for renters?

Birmingham is considered affordable for renters. At $3,221/mo, rent takes approximately 25% of the local median household income ($153,510/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Birmingham falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Birmingham?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $129,000/year (~$62/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,221/mo in Birmingham. The local median household income is $153,510/yr, meaning the typical Birmingham household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Birmingham?

Rent in Birmingham has increased 9.6% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Birmingham rent compare to other cities in Michigan?

Birmingham is one of the pricier cities in Michigan for rent, ranking #1 out of 95 tracked cities at $3,221/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Birmingham?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Birmingham ($3,221/mo): Oak Park ($1,445/mo), Troy ($1,861/mo), Berkley ($2,080/mo).

What percentage of Birmingham residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 22.9% of Birmingham households are renters, while 77.1% are owner-occupied. Birmingham leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Birmingham rent compare to the national average?

Birmingham's median rent of $3,221/mo is $1,256 (64%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Michigan, it ranks #1 out of 95 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

25%

AFFORDABLE

At $3,221/mo, rent takes ~25% of Birmingham's median household income ($153,510/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Birmingham 25%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.25%

Run the Birmingham affordability calculator →

Nearby cities