Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Birmingham, AL
🏆 Ann Arbor leads 12 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
122,216
Birmingham
Alabama
11
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.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
Households earn $36,082 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Birmingham
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (3.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Birmingham
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $294k less ($123,000 vs $416,500)
Rent averages $477/mo less ($995 vs $1,472)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Ann Arbor
Cons
Median income trails Ann Arbor by $36,082/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 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Median Income
$36,082
$78,546 vs $42,464/yr
Ann Arbor
Violent Crime
76% lower
302.5 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Birmingham
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$294k less
$123,000 vs $416,500
Birmingham
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Birmingham, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $123,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 ✓ Higher | $42,464 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 328⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | Birmingham City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 1.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 | 200,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 19.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Birmingham's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Ann Arbor leads 12 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 12 and Birmingham wins 11. 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 Ann Arbor to Birmingham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $123,000 median home), income ($78,546 vs $42,464), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Birmingham, AL are about 627 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.