As military families, we’re accustomed to the transient nature of our lifestyle. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders are part and parcel of our reality, presenting both challenges and opportunities. One such opportunity led me to Birmingham, Alabama—a vibrant city with a rich history, nestled in the heart of the Deep South. In this blog, I’ll share my experiences and insights about PCSing to Birmingham with the military.
Education and Employment Opportunities
Birmingham offers diverse education and employment opportunities for military spouses and dependents. The city is home to several colleges and universities, providing options for furthering education or pursuing career development. Additionally, many local businesses and organizations actively seek to hire military spouses, recognizing their adaptability and valuable skill sets. Programs like the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) further facilitate job placements and career advancement for military spouses in the area.
Cost of Living Considerations
One of the factors that often influence PCS decisions is the cost of living in the new location. Fortunately, Birmingham offers a relatively affordable cost of living compared to many other metropolitan areas. Housing options range from family-friendly neighborhoods to urban lofts, catering to diverse preferences and budgets. Alabama also offers a notable tax benefit for military retirees: military retirement pay is fully exempt from state income tax (more on that below).
Navigating Military-Friendly Resources
Military families transitioning to Birmingham will find a wealth of resources tailored to their needs. From support services on base to local organizations dedicated to assisting military spouses and children, there’s no shortage of help available. Additionally, Birmingham’s proximity to military installations like Maxwell Air Force Base and Fort Rucker ensures easy access to essential amenities and healthcare services.
Birmingham's Military and Veteran Connections
Birmingham is not a base town. There is no major active-duty installation inside the city. What Birmingham does have is a strong military and veteran community, and easy reach to several Alabama installations.
The biggest local anchor is the Birmingham VA Medical Center, at 700 South 19th Street in the city's Southside district. It is a 313-bed facility that provides acute medical and surgical care to veterans from Alabama and nearby states. The wider Birmingham VA Health Care System also runs community-based outpatient clinics across the region, including in Bessemer, Huntsville, Gadsden, Jasper, and the Anniston-Oxford area, so routine care does not always mean a drive downtown.
If you want to stay close to an active-duty installation, a few are within reach. Maxwell Air Force Base, in Montgomery, sits about 82 miles south of Birmingham, according to Military.com's Maxwell-Gunter base guide. Maxwell is the home of Air University. To the north, Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville is the state's largest installation and a major hub for Army aviation and missile work, as noted in MilitaryBases.com's Alabama list. Farther south, Fort Novosel (formerly Fort Rucker) is the Army's main helicopter training post. None of these is a short daily commute, but they keep Birmingham connected to commissary trips, medical referrals, and the wider Alabama military network.
Veteran roots run deep here. Census figures put the number of veterans in Jefferson County, where Birmingham sits, in the thousands, based on the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Jefferson County. That means veteran service organizations, support groups, and people who understand military life are not hard to find.
Cost of Living and Housing in Birmingham
Money goes further in Birmingham than in many other metro areas, and that is a big part of why families settle here.
For homebuyers, the numbers are easy to like. The typical home value in the city of Birmingham was about $104,605 as of April 30, 2026, according to Zillow's Birmingham home values page. This is a typical value across the market, not a median sale price, and it can change with the season. Prices climb as you move into the suburbs. Across the broader Birmingham-Hoover metro area, the typical home value was around $206,767 as of April 30, 2026, again a typical value rather than a sale price. So a buyer can find a starter home well under the national average in the city, or step up to a larger suburban home and still pay less than in many coastal markets.
A note on taxes for those considering Alabama residency. Alabama does have a state income tax, but military retirement pay is fully exempt from it, according to the Alabama Department of Revenue's list of exempt income. For a retiring service member, that exemption can stretch a fixed income noticeably.
