Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Birmingham, AL
🏆 Austin leads 15 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Birmingham
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $44,092 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 55°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $339k less ($123,000 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $554/mo less ($995 vs $1,549)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 97°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Austin
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $44,092/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
Austin
Median Income
$44,092
$86,556 vs $42,464/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
63% lower
466.9 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 91.0°F
Birmingham
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$339k less
$123,000 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Birmingham, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $123,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $42,464 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 328⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Birmingham City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 54.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 1.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 200,431 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 19.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Birmingham's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 15 of 23 categories. Austin wins 15 and Birmingham wins 8. 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 Austin to Birmingham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $123,000 median home), income ($86,556 vs $42,464), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Birmingham, AL are about 680 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.