Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Carrollton, TX
🏆 Carrollton leads 17 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Carrollton
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $204k less ($123,000 vs $327,300)
Rent averages $560/mo less ($995 vs $1,555)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Carrollton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Carrollton by $52,916/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 3.7%)
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Households earn $52,916 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,300
Higher rents — median is $1,555/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$204k less
$123,000 vs $327,300
Carrollton
Median Income
$52,916
$95,380 vs $42,464/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
89% lower
137.1 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Carrollton
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Carrollton, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $327,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,555⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $95,380 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 17.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 42.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 89.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 39.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 132,284 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Carrollton's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 17 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 6 and Carrollton wins 17. 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 Carrollton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $327,300 median home), income ($42,464 vs $95,380), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Carrollton, TX are about 585 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.