Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Boston, MA
🏆 Boston leads 12 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431
Boston
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $562k less ($123,000 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $986/mo less ($995 vs $1,981)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $46,748/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 6.6%)
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $46,748 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than Birmingham
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$562k less
$123,000 vs $684,900
Birmingham
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 82.1°F
Boston
Median Income
$46,748
$89,212 vs $42,464/yr
Boston
Violent Crime
50% lower
627.9 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Boston
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Boston, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $684,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,981⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $89,212 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 16.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 53.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 88.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Boston |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 36.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 43.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 49.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 | 665,945 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 15.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Boston's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boston leads 12 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 11 and Boston wins 12. 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 Boston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $684,900 median home), income ($42,464 vs $89,212), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Boston, MA are about 1,051 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.