The Best Home Security Systems in Birmingham, AL
Are you looking for the best home security systems in Birmingham, AL? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed Birmingham, AL home security system options in a way no other source has been able to do. See why
A property crime is committed in Birmingham every 16 minutes, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. Birmingham experiences 25.76 property crimes per 1000 people and 7.610 incidents of vandalism per 1000 people in the typical year. A home security system will protect you when you’re at home or away, 24 hours a day.
Home Security Companies Available in Birmingham, AL
Best Overall
Simplisafe
We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Birmingham. The combination of a high amount of renters (25%) and education level (34% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
Best Reputation
ADT
Compelling history and top quality security and smart home products. If you're willing to pay for it, you will get a top notch product.
Upgrade Pick
Vivint
Vivint doesn't seem to care about competitive prices; just quality. Their bespoke whole-house systems combine strict security with cutting-edge technology and full-scale home automation, making up the complete package.
Do You Need a Home Security System in Birmingham, AL?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in Birmingham, AL. We’ll compare different crime rates and weather along with advanced features that make you feel safer and make your life easier.
Why Crime Grade?
Crime Grade has the most robust and accurate nationwide crime model available. In addition, our data is granular enough to identify and compare crime statistics to the neighborhood level. This puts us in the unique position of being able to evaluate the home security needs of people in a particular city rather than making a general assessment. So read on to see what's unique about Birmingham, AL and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in Birmingham, AL
Our analysis gives Birmingham a property crime grade of: C. Birmingham is in the 59th percentile of safety, meaning 59% of cities in Alabama are safer and 41% are more dangerous. Please visit our Birmingham crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the central part of Birmingham, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 22. Compare this to the southeastern part of the city, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 54.
B-
B- |
|
C |
|
Other Crime Grade |
B |
A crime occurs every 10 minutes (on average) in Birmingham, AL.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is Birmingham safe? Compared to all of Alabama, Birmingham is rated as safe as the average Alabama city, which has a property crime rate of 26.84 per 1000. Looking at burglary, we see a different pattern, where Birmingham, with its burglary rate of 5.773 per 1000, is as safe as the average Alabama city.
In addition, Birmingham is lower than other cities with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in Birmingham, AL.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in Birmingham, AL |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
19.40 |
23,722 |
456.2 |
Vehicle Theft |
0.4869 |
595 |
11.4 |
Burglary |
5.773 |
7,059 |
135.8 |
Arson |
0.0973 |
119 |
2.3 |
Weather and Climate in Birmingham, AL
As strange as it might sound, some home security system features can be more or less important based on the climate you live in.
Home Security Fire Sensors in Birmingham, AL
Hotter temperatures can lead to higher risk of fires in the home. The average temperature in Birmingham, AL is 63.92 degrees, reaching 98.36 degrees in the hottest months like July & August. This temperature has held steady compared to 1990, when the hottest month reached 97.59 degrees in July.
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in Birmingham was built in 1986, which is newer than the national average of 1978 and is much older than the average home in Alabama build in 1987.
Between hotter seasonal temperatures and older homes in Birmingham, you can judge how important fire sensors and immediate response may be. A combination of smoke detectors, CO2 sensors, and fire alarms connected to a home security system can make that response as swift as possible, whether you’re at work or on vacation.
Home Security Flood Sensors in Birmingham, AL
Birmingham, AL gets an average rainfall of 2.3" per year. This is higher than the average of 1.7" for Alabama.
With the risk of flooding and burst pipes, a flood sensor can alert you and authorities as soon as possible. Even a few hours make the difference between an easy restoration and long-term water damage.
Home Security Freeze Sensors in Birmingham, AL
Birmingham, AL reaches an average of 54.72 degrees in its cold months of January & December. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the coldest month reached 60.20 degrees in January.
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in Birmingham is 37 years old, and seasonal temperature changes have had much more time to cause stress on the home compared to the average Alabama home that's 36 years old and less time than the national average of a 45-year-old home.
Temperature fluctuations will weaken the structure and foundation of the home, cold temperatures can cause pipes to leak or burst, and if it snows that can cause additional stress on the roof. However, freeze sensors are not an expensive addon. After assessing your Birmingham home, you can make a more informed decision if they would be a suitable addition to your home security system.
Cost of Home Security Systems in Birmingham, AL
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your Birmingham home, we must determine some of your preferences.
Self-Monitored or Professionally Monitored?
Any home security system you pick will offer a selection of equipment including entry sensors, cameras, etc. The question is, do you actually want to self-monitor your system? If like 24.88% (293,736) of people in Birmingham, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 75.12% or 886,895 of Birmingham residents own their homes and may be more likely to consider a professionally monitored system to protect their property.
Whether you rent or buy, how well can you monitor your system on your own? For example, if you're one of the 88% of people who commute an average of 34 minutes to work in or around Birmingham, can you immediately receive notifications on your phone, check cameras in meetings or while working, and call the police if needed?
If not, you might want a professionally monitored system where a company is available 24/7 to respond, whether on vacation or at work. Please see our comprehensive guide on the best home security systems for a complete comparison.
Self-Installed vs. Professional Installation
Most providers have great self-installation options, so if you're handy or tech-savvy, like the 5% of Birmingham residents working in computer engineering and science, self-installation can be a great option.
Alternatively, when your security system is installed professionally, you can ensure that your equipment is placed correctly and will function without any problems. That peace of mind is valuable for people willing to spend the extra money.
Residents of Birmingham tend to have a lower median household income than nearby cities, earning $76,042 annually. In addition, 34.0% of residents have a college degree or higher, compared to 32.9% in the United States.
If you're a homeowner, do you have more to protect? The median home value in Birmingham is $216,642. Compared to the median home value in Alabama of $185,232, your home value will probably be higher. With their larger lots, single-family homes tend to be more isolated from view and a tempting target for burglars.
Find an in-depth review of installation options in our best home security systems guide.
Police Stations Near Birmingham, AL
There are 286 police stations within the boundaries of Birmingham, and 9 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the Birmingham center, there are 166 police stations. Compared to other cities, police response times in Birmingham may be much faster. Even when response times are great, every second your security system saves in reporting a crime will improve the police response.
| Jefferson County Sheriff's Office 2200 Rev Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard Birmingham, AL 35203 (205) 325-1450 jeffcosheriff.net |
Sheriff's Dept-Property Clerk 2200 Rev Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard Birmingham, AL 35203 (205) 325-5900 jeffcosheriff.net |
Birmingham Police Department 2201 Highland Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35205 (205) 254-2793 informationbirmingham.com |
Safest Neighborhoods in Birmingham, AL
According to our analysis, here are the safest neighborhoods in Birmingham.Home Security and Property Crime in Cities Near Birmingham, AL
Nearby City | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Birmingham, AL? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Brook, AL | C+ | B+ | about as safe |
| Homewood, AL | D | D+ | less safe |
| Tarrant, AL | D- | D- | less safe |
| Vestavia Hills, AL | C- | B | less safe |
| Irondale, AL | B- | B | more safe |
| Fultondale, AL | D- | D | less safe |
| Forestdale, AL | C+ | B+ | about as safe |
| Fairfield, AL | C- | C- | less safe |
| Docena, AL | D- | D | less safe |
| McDonald Chapel, AL | F | D- | less safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Cities Similar to Birmingham, AL
Nearby City | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Birmingham, AL? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo, NY | F | D- | less safe |
| Hartford, CT | F | D- | less safe |
| Salt Lake City, UT | C- | D | less safe |
| Rochester, NY | D | D+ | less safe |
| New Orleans, LA | D+ | F | less safe |
| Grand Rapids, MI | B- | B- | more safe |
| Tucson, AZ | D+ | D+ | less safe |
| Louisville, KY | C- | C | about as safe |
| Richmond, VA | D+ | C- | less safe |
| Honolulu, HI | D+ | C- | less safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in Birmingham, AL
Deciding whether you need a home security system in Birmingham, AL can be a complicated decision. We've used distrinctive property crime statistics and varying environment factors about the city to help us make an objective recommendation for most residents. Leveraging CrimeGrade.org's uniquely robust and granular crime data, we've scrutinized the options for home security systems, tailoring them to the unique needs and context of Birmingham residents.
Combining the property crime Grades, demographic information, and local climate conditions for advanced home security features gives us some companies that stand out.
Simplisafe, ADT, and Vivint have emerged as the top choices for Birmingham residents due to their distinctive offerings and reliability, each appealing to varied preferences and budget ranges of homeowners and renters alike. Notably, factors such as Birmingham's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 16 minutes in Birmingham.
- The city experiences 25.76 property crimes and 7.610 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- Birmingham's property crime grade stands at an 'C', comparably as safe as other Alabama {{place_type__plural_lower}}.
Noteworthy Security Companies
- Simplisafe: We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Birmingham. The combination of a high amount of renters (25%) and education level (34% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
- ADT: Compelling history and top quality security and smart home products. If you're willing to pay for it, you will get a top notch product.
- Vivint: Vivint doesn't seem to care about competitive prices; just quality. Their bespoke whole-house systems combine strict security with cutting-edge technology and full-scale home automation, making up the complete package.
Climate Considerations for Security
- Fire sensors could be worth considering, since the average temperature reaches 98.36 degrees in the peak months of July & August.
- Freeze sensors might be worth considering, with January & December temperatures averaging 54.72 degrees.
- Flood sensors are also worth considering due to the 2.3" of average yearly rainfall and house age of 37 years.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 24.88% of Birmingham residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 88% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering Birmingham's lower household median income of $76,042 and 34.0% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- Birmingham hosts 286 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.