Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Conroe, TX
🏆 Conroe leads 15 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Conroe
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,630 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
92,475
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $140k less ($123,000 vs $262,500)
Rent averages $260/mo less ($995 vs $1,255)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Conroe
Cons
Median income trails Conroe by $29,166/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 3.4%)
Conroe, TX
Pros
Households earn $29,166 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 55°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$140k less
$123,000 vs $262,500
Conroe
Median Income
$29,166
$71,630 vs $42,464/yr
Conroe
Violent Crime
80% lower
243.5 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Conroe
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Conroe
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Conroe, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $262,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,255 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $71,630 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 32.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 62.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 51.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 92,475 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Conroe's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Conroe leads 15 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 8 and Conroe wins 15. 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 Conroe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $262,500 median home), income ($42,464 vs $71,630), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Conroe, TX are about 555 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.