Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Cincinnati, OH
🏆 Cincinnati leads 14 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431
Cincinnati
Ohio
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1
Median Household Income
$49,191 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $69k less ($123,000 vs $192,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 41°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Cincinnati by $6,727/yr
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
32% less violent crime than Birmingham
Households earn $6,727 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.9%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $102/mo less ($893 vs $995)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 94.1 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$69k less
$123,000 vs $192,000
Birmingham
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 86.6°F
Cincinnati
Median Income
$6,727
$49,191 vs $42,464/yr
Cincinnati
Violent Crime
32% lower
845.6 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Cincinnati
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Cincinnati, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 94.1 |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $192,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $893 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $49,191 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 206⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 223⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Cincinnati Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 16.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 | 308,870 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Cincinnati's 94.1 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cincinnati leads 14 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 9 and Cincinnati wins 14. 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 Cincinnati or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $192,000 median home), income ($42,464 vs $49,191), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Cincinnati, OH are about 408 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.