Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Durham, NC
🏆 Durham 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
Durham
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $194k less ($123,000 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $301/mo less ($995 vs $1,296)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 49°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Durham
Cons
Median income trails Durham by $32,246/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 4.3%)
Durham, NC
Pros
Households earn $32,246 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$194k less
$123,000 vs $316,600
Birmingham
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 87.0°F
Durham
Median Income
$32,246
$74,710 vs $42,464/yr
Durham
Violent Crime
50% lower
619.2 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Durham
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Durham, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 96.6 |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $316,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,296 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $74,710 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 17.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 181⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Durham Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 50.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 5.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 | 284,094 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 52.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 20.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 12.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Durham's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 14 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 9 and Durham 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 Durham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $316,600 median home), income ($42,464 vs $74,710), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Durham, NC are about 479 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.