Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Fall River, MA
🏆 Birmingham leads 15 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Fall River
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $205k less ($123,000 vs $328,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (7.5%)
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 39°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Fall River
Cons
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fall River by $10,270/yr
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fall River, MA
Pros
40% less violent crime than Birmingham
Households earn $10,270 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,100
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 7.5%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$205k less
$123,000 vs $328,100
Birmingham
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Birmingham
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 82.5°F
Fall River
Median Income
$10,270
$52,734 vs $42,464/yr
Fall River
Violent Crime
40% lower
742.9 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Fall River, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $328,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,020 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $52,734 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 75.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Fall River |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 49.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 38.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 93,638 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% ✓ Higher | 35.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Fall River's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Birmingham leads 15 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 15 and Fall River wins 8. 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 Fall River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $328,100 median home), income ($42,464 vs $52,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Fall River, MA are about 1,027 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.