East Birmingham
Moving to Irondale, Alabama?
A close-in east-side city where the airport is under ten minutes away and about four in ten homes are rented.
Start here
The airport next door, a lot of rentals.
Irondale facts at a glance.
| Measure | Irondale |
|---|---|
| Population | 13,545 (July 1, 2025 estimate) Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts ↗ |
| Median household income | $72,343 Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts ↗ |
| Median gross rent | $1,320/month Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts ↗ |
| Median home value | $255,800 Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts ↗ |
| Homes that are owner-occupied | 60.1% Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts ↗ |
| Average commute to work | 22.3 minutes Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts ↗ |
| Sales tax | 10% (4% state, 2% Jefferson County, 4% city) Source: Alabama Department of Revenue local tax rate file ↗ |
| Public schools | Jefferson County Schools, including Irondale Community School, Irondale Middle School, and Shades Valley High School Source: Jefferson County Schools ↗ |
| Named area | Old Irondale, home of Triangle Park Source: City of Irondale parks ↗ |
| City parks | Beacon Park, Ruffner Park (301 Ruffner Road), Ellard Park, Triangle Park, and a Cahaba River canoe launch on Grants Mill Road Source: City of Irondale parks ↗ |
| Drive to downtown Birmingham | About 12 minutes (8.0 miles) Source: Google Maps driving estimates from each city hall, light Saturday-afternoon traffic |
| Drive to UAB Hospital | About 14 minutes (9.6 miles) Source: Google Maps driving estimates from each city hall, light Saturday-afternoon traffic |
| Drive to BHM airport | About 8 minutes (3.7 miles) Source: Google Maps driving estimates from each city hall, light Saturday-afternoon traffic |
Checked October 2026. Census figures are American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024, except population. Drive times are light-traffic estimates; weekday rush hours take longer. Taxes, utilities, and school assignment depend on the exact address, so confirm them before you sign.
Why put it on your list?
From Irondale City Hall, Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport was about 8 minutes away on Google Maps, and downtown about 12 minutes. The Census average commute to work is about 22 minutes.
About 40% of Irondale homes are rented, compared with about 8% in Trussville, so renting first is a realistic option here. The Census median rent is $1,320 and the median home value is $255,800.
Irondale runs from Old Irondale to a Cahaba River canoe launch on Grants Mill Road. The housing, noise, and traffic change a lot along the way, so tour more than one part of the city.
Parks from Old Irondale to the Cahaba River.
The city lists Beacon Park, with a playground, pavilions, and a walking track; Ruffner Park, a 20.3-acre baseball and softball complex on Ruffner Road; Ellard Park; and Triangle Park in Old Irondale. It also keeps a canoe launch on the Cahaba River at Grants Mill Road (City of Irondale parks ↗).
Irondale’s public schools are part of Jefferson County Schools ↗, including Irondale Community School, Irondale Middle, and Shades Valley High. Confirm the zoned school for the address.
Sales tax is 10%: 4% state, 2% Jefferson County, and 4% city (Alabama Department of Revenue local tax rate file ↗).
Verify the address before deciding.
Current inventory, taxes, insurance, zoning, schools, utilities, inspection findings, and commute times belong to the exact property and your actual routine.
- Frequent flyers and airport workers
- Renters who want a short drive to downtown or UAB
- Buyers comparing east-side prices with Mountain Brook next door
Validate your move plan
Tell us what you are moving toward.
Choose the question that best describes your move. This helps us improve the guide around real Birmingham-area decisions.