Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Fort Worth, TX
🏆 Fort Worth 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
Fort Worth
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $127k less ($123,000 vs $250,300)
Rent averages $318/mo less ($995 vs $1,313)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 97°F
Cons
Median income trails Fort Worth by $30,262/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 5.3%)
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Households earn $30,262 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.3%)
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$127k less
$123,000 vs $250,300
Fort Worth
Median Income
$30,262
$72,726 vs $42,464/yr
Fort Worth
Violent Crime
63% lower
458.4 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Fort Worth
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Fort Worth, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $250,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,313 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $72,726 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 10.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ 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 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | FORT WORTH ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 35.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 2.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 | 924,663 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Fort Worth's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 15 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 8 and Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $250,300 median home), income ($42,464 vs $72,726), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Fort Worth, TX are about 612 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.