Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Broken Arrow, OK
🏆 Broken Arrow leads 16 of 22 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Broken Arrow
Oklahoma
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,547 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
114,237
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($123,000 vs $210,800)
Rent averages $188/mo less ($995 vs $1,183)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 49°F
Cons
Median income trails Broken Arrow by $40,083/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 4.3%)
Broken Arrow, OK
Pros
Households earn $40,083 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (223.1 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$88k less
$123,000 vs $210,800
Broken Arrow
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Broken Arrow
Median Income
$40,083
$82,547 vs $42,464/yr
Broken Arrow
Violent Crime
82% lower
223.1 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Broken Arrow
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Broken Arrow, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $210,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,183 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $82,547 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 34.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | BROKEN ARROW |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 42.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 8.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 114,237 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 72.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 25.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Broken Arrow's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Broken Arrow is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Broken Arrow leads 16 of 22 categories. Birmingham wins 6 and Broken Arrow wins 16. 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 Broken Arrow or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $210,800 median home), income ($42,464 vs $82,547), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Broken Arrow, OK are about 538 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.