Zillow placed the Alabama city behind Jacksonville among the 50 largest US metros, with households spending 21% of median income on rent and affordable homes making up 56% of listings.
The ranking also said Birmingham has 6.2 affordable listings per 100 renters and that 33% of households are of home-buying age, signalling relatively lower competition for entry-level homes.
Zillow said top markets typically combine manageable rents, more affordable inventory and better supply, with six of the top 10 metros located in the Sun Belt.
Beyond affordability, what are the hidden economic and climate risks for homebuyers moving to 2026's top-ranked Sun Belt cities?
Do 2026's most affordable housing markets offer the same career growth and wealth potential as their more expensive counterparts?
With new rules targeting large investors, will first-time buyers gain an edge, or is the housing shortage too severe to overcome?