Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
College Station, TX
🏆 College Station leads 16 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
College Station
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $183k less ($123,000 vs $305,800)
Rent averages $134/mo less ($995 vs $1,129)
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 College Station by $9,933/yr
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.7%)
College Station, TX
Pros
86% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,933 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$183k less
$123,000 vs $305,800
College Station
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Median Income
$9,933
$52,397 vs $42,464/yr
College Station
Violent Crime
86% lower
170.5 vs 1246.6 per 100k
College Station
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
College Station
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | College Station, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $305,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,129 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $52,397 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A (129) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 95.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | COLLEGE STATION ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 46.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 120,451 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 22.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 16.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 6.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs College Station's 90.7 (US average = 100).
College Station is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 16 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 7 and College Station 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 College Station or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $305,800 median home), income ($42,464 vs $52,397), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and College Station, TX are about 592 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.