Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Birmingham, AL
🏆 Beaverton leads 14 of 23 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
97,554
Birmingham
Alabama
9
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.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
Households earn $46,435 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 48.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,700
Higher rents — median is $1,663/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Birmingham
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $372k less ($123,000 vs $494,700)
Rent averages $668/mo less ($995 vs $1,663)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Beaverton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 49°F
Cons
Median income trails Beaverton by $46,435/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 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Median Income
$46,435
$88,899 vs $42,464/yr
Beaverton
Violent Crime
71% lower
364.8 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Beaverton
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
3.9% vs 7.5% unemployment
Birmingham
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$372k less
$123,000 vs $494,700
Birmingham
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 82.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Birmingham, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High | $123,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 ✓ Higher | $42,464 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 328⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | Birmingham City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 1.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 200,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Birmingham's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Beaverton leads 14 of 23 categories. Beaverton wins 14 and Birmingham wins 9. 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 Beaverton to Birmingham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $123,000 median home), income ($88,899 vs $42,464), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Birmingham, AL are about 2,068 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.