Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Cedar Rapids, IA
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 17 of 22 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $45k less ($123,000 vs $167,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 28°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Cedar Rapids by $24,431/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%)
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
79% less violent crime than Birmingham
Households earn $24,431 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $109/mo less ($886 vs $995)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$45k less
$123,000 vs $167,900
Birmingham
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 82.8°F
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$24,431
$66,895 vs $42,464/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
79% lower
261.5 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
3.9% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Cedar Rapids, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $167,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $886 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $66,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Cedar Rapids Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 27.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 34.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 136,929 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 69.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Cedar Rapids's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 17 of 22 categories. Birmingham wins 5 and Cedar Rapids 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 Cedar Rapids or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $167,900 median home), income ($42,464 vs $66,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Cedar Rapids, IA are about 641 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.