Homewood and its three nearest cities side by side: 2025 millage, 2024-25 report card grades, Zillow home values, Census income and commute times.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Sources: the Alabama Department of Revenue’s 2025 millage table (PDF), the Alabama State Department of Education’s report card, Zillow Research, the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates and QuickFacts, and each city’s website.
Vestavia Hills is about four miles from the middle of Homewood, Birmingham about five and Mountain Brook about five, by the Census Bureau’s place centers. The four cities share Jefferson County’s tax collector and courts, but each has its own city government, its own police and fire departments and its own school system. This page sets the official figures side by side, one table per topic. It does not rank them.
Property taxes
Alabama taxes a home you live in at 10% of its appraised value, then applies the total millage; one mill is $1 for every $1,000 of assessed value. These are the levies on the Jefferson County side in the Department of Revenue’s October 2025 millage table (PDF). Part of Vestavia Hills is in Shelby County, with different rates.
| Levy (mills) | Homewood | Vestavia Hills | Birmingham | Mountain Brook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Jefferson County | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 |
| Schools (countywide 8.2 plus district) | 23.3 | 23.3 | 24.0 | 42.3 |
| City | 31.7 | 49.3 | 28.5 | 46.7 |
| Total | 75.0 | 92.6 | 72.5 | 109.0 |
| Tax on a $300,000 home, before exemptions | $2,250 | $2,778 | $2,175 | $3,270 |
The table notes that 14.2 of Homewood’s city mills are for education, as are 28.75 of Vestavia Hills’ and 9.8 of Birmingham’s. A $5 storm water fee for homes applies in most county districts, including all four cities. Homestead exemptions are set by state law and applied by the county, not by the cities; see the Department of Revenue’s homestead page.
City millage rates
Source: Alabama Department of Revenue, 2025 millage rates, Jefferson County. More in our property tax guide.
Schools
Each city runs its own school system. Grades are from the state’s 2024-25 report card, released in November 2025, on an A to F scale with a score out of 100.
| System | 2024-25 grade |
|---|---|
| Homewood City Schools | A (96) |
| Vestavia Hills City Schools | A (97) |
| Birmingham City Schools | C (77) |
| Mountain Brook Schools | A (99) |
High schools, from the same report card:
| City | High school | 2024-25 grade |
|---|---|---|
| Homewood | Homewood High | A (94) |
| Vestavia Hills | Vestavia Hills High | A (96) |
| Mountain Brook | Mountain Brook High | A (99) |
| Birmingham | Ramsay High | A (93) |
| Birmingham | Wenonah High | C (73) |
| Birmingham | George Washington Carver High | C (72) |
| Birmingham | Huffman High | C (71) |
| Birmingham | Parker High | D (66) |
| Birmingham | Woodlawn High | D (61) |
| Birmingham | Jackson-Olin High | D (60) |
Vestavia Hills also has a separate freshman campus with its own report card. More on Homewood’s schools in our schools guide.
Home values
The Zillow Home Value Index for each city, September 2026. It is a modeled typical value for the middle third of homes, not a sale price.
| City | September 2026 | September 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homewood | $568,543 | $533,376 | +6.59% |
| Vestavia Hills | $563,923 | $541,717 | +4.10% |
| Birmingham | $134,165 | $137,465 | -2.40% |
| Mountain Brook | $1,054,515 | $970,355 | +8.67% |
Typical home value by city
Source: Zillow Research, city ZHVI. More in our home prices guide and neighborhoods guide.
People, income and commute
From the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates (data profiles DP03, DP04 and DP05), the same vintage for all four cities. Median home value is what owners estimate their homes are worth, a different measure from Zillow’s. The QuickFacts comparison shows the four together and may show a different vintage.
| Measure | Homewood | Vestavia Hills | Birmingham | Mountain Brook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 27,829 | 38,616 | 198,173 | 22,029 |
| Median household income | $94,485 | $134,369 | $46,051 | $201,479 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $558,500 | $530,000 | $158,800 | $916,300 |
| Mean travel time to work | 17.1 minutes | 19.3 minutes | 20.8 minutes | 16.4 minutes |
Each figure is an estimate with a margin of error, which the Census tables list. The city profiles: Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Birmingham and Mountain Brook.
City services
| Service | Homewood | Vestavia Hills | Birmingham | Mountain Brook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Police | Homewood Police Department | Vestavia Hills Police Department | Birmingham Police Department | Mountain Brook Police Department |
| Fire | Homewood Fire Department | Vestavia Hills Fire Department | Birmingham Fire and Rescue | Mountain Brook Fire Department |
| Garbage | Amwaste, under city contract, twice a week | Amwaste, under city contract, twice a week | City Public Works, one weekday a week | Amwaste, under city contract, twice a week |
Sources: the City of Homewood’s garbage page, Vestavia Hills’ sanitation FAQ, Birmingham’s pickup page and Mountain Brook’s waste schedule page, and the city websites (Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Birmingham, Mountain Brook) for police and fire. Vestavia Hills says garbage and recycling pickup is paid for through property taxes. More on Homewood’s pickup days in our trash and recycling guide.
How to check an address
- Which city is it in? Look up the parcel in Jefferson County’s property tax portal, which shows the taxing district. A Birmingham mailing address or a shared ZIP code does not tell you the city.
- Which schools? For a Homewood address, use the district’s school locator map and call residency and enrollment at 205-870-2011. In the other three cities, ask that city’s school system.
- What will the tax bill be? The same county portal shows the current bill and its levies for any parcel; the Jefferson County Tax Collector’s Birmingham office is at 205-325-5500. Our property tax guide explains the 7% cap and how to appeal.
Frequently asked questions
Are property taxes higher in Homewood or Vestavia Hills?
On the Jefferson County side, the state’s October 2025 table lists 75 total mills for a Homewood home and 92.6 for a Vestavia Hills home. Mountain Brook is 109 and Birmingham 72.5. All four share the same 6.5 state and 13.5 county mills.
How do Homewood schools compare with Vestavia Hills and Mountain Brook schools?
On the state’s 2024-25 report card, Homewood City Schools earned an A (96), Vestavia Hills City an A (97), Mountain Brook City an A (99) and Birmingham City a C (77). Homewood High earned an A (94), Vestavia Hills High an A (96) and Mountain Brook High an A (99).
What is the typical home value in Homewood compared with Mountain Brook?
In September 2026 the Zillow Home Value Index was $568,543 for Homewood, $1,054,515 for Mountain Brook, $563,923 for Vestavia Hills and $134,165 for Birmingham. The index is a modeled typical value, not a sale price.
How do I know which city a house is in?
Look up the parcel with Jefferson County, which shows the taxing district, then check the school zone with that city’s school system. Mailing addresses and ZIP codes do not always match city limits.
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