Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alafaya, FL
VS
Birmingham, AL
🏆 Alafaya leads 13 of 19 categories
Alafaya
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,531
Birmingham
Alabama
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alafaya, FL
Pros
Households earn $50,787 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 47.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $361,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Birmingham
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $239k less ($123,000 vs $361,800)
Rent averages $773/mo less ($995 vs $1,768)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Alafaya
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Alafaya by $50,787/yr
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alafaya
Median Income
$50,787
$93,251 vs $42,464/yr
Alafaya
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Birmingham
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 101.1 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$239k less
$123,000 vs $361,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alafaya, FL | Birmingham, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $361,800⚠ High | $123,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,251 ✓ Higher | $42,464 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 274⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 328⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 192⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | Birmingham City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.2°F ✓ Warmer | 54.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.2" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,531 | 200,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.4% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alafaya's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Birmingham's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Alafaya leads 13 of 19 categories. Alafaya wins 13 and Birmingham wins 6. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alafaya to Birmingham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($361,800 vs $123,000 median home), income ($93,251 vs $42,464), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alafaya, FL and Birmingham, AL are about 479 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.