Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Colorado Springs, CO
🏆 Colorado Springs 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
Colorado Springs
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $260k less ($123,000 vs $383,000)
Rent averages $469/mo less ($995 vs $1,464)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 45°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Colorado Springs
Cons
Median income trails Colorado Springs by $36,562/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 5.6%)
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Households earn $36,562 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,000
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$260k less
$123,000 vs $383,000
Birmingham
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 86.5°F
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$36,562
$79,026 vs $42,464/yr
Colorado Springs
Violent Crime
43% lower
715.6 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Colorado Springs
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Colorado Springs, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $383,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,464⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $79,026 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 41.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 19.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 55.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 | 479,612 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 61.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 22.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Colorado Springs's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 14 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 9 and Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $383,000 median home), income ($42,464 vs $79,026), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Colorado Springs, CO are about 1,065 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.