Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
El Monte, CA
🏆 Birmingham leads 12 of 22 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
El Monte
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $474k less ($123,000 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $610/mo less ($995 vs $1,605)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails El Monte by $17,465/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
El Monte, CA
Pros
66% less violent crime than Birmingham
Households earn $17,465 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (7.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 55°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Birmingham
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$474k less
$123,000 vs $597,200
Birmingham
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 85.5°F
El Monte
Median Income
$17,465
$59,929 vs $42,464/yr
El Monte
Violent Crime
66% lower
423.2 vs 1246.6 per 100k
El Monte
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
7.0% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | El Monte, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $597,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,605⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $59,929 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 63.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Mountain View Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 15.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 108,682 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% ✓ Higher | 39.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs El Monte's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Birmingham leads 12 of 22 categories. Birmingham wins 12 and El Monte wins 10. 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 El Monte or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $597,200 median home), income ($42,464 vs $59,929), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and El Monte, CA are about 1,787 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.