Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Fishers, IN
🏆 Fishers 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 ✓ Larger
Fishers
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$126,548 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
99,041
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $216k less ($123,000 vs $339,000)
Rent averages $483/mo less ($995 vs $1,478)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Fishers
Cons
Median income trails Fishers by $84,084/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 2.5%)
Fishers, IN
Pros
Households earn $84,084 more per year on average
94% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (2.5%)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (72.9 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,000
Higher rents — median is $1,478/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$216k less
$123,000 vs $339,000
Birmingham
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 84.4°F
Fishers
Median Income
$84,084
$126,548 vs $42,464/yr
Fishers
Violent Crime
94% lower
72.9 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Fishers
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
2.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Fishers, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 94.6 |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $339,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,478⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $126,548 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 2.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 18.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 19 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 98.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Hamilton Southeastern Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 45.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 26.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 99,041 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 77.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 27.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Fishers's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fishers leads 14 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 9 and Fishers 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 Fishers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $339,000 median home), income ($42,464 vs $126,548), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Fishers, IN are about 447 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.