Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Boca Raton, FL
🏆 Boca Raton leads 15 of 22 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Boca Raton
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $474k less ($123,000 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $1175/mo less ($995 vs $2,170)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $53,106/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 5.9%)
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $53,106 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Birmingham
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Birmingham
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$474k less
$123,000 vs $597,100
Boca Raton
Median Income
$53,106
$95,570 vs $42,464/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
86% lower
171.0 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Boca Raton
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Boca Raton, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $597,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $2,170⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $95,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 18.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 96.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" ✓ Drier | 65.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 97,980 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 47.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 25.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Boca Raton's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 15 of 22 categories. Birmingham wins 7 and Boca Raton wins 15. 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 Birmingham to Boca Raton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $597,100 median home), income ($42,464 vs $95,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Boca Raton, FL are about 636 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.