Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Glendale, AZ
🏆 Glendale 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
Glendale
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$66,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $187k less ($123,000 vs $310,000)
Rent averages $273/mo less ($995 vs $1,268)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 105°F
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 Glendale by $23,911/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 5.7%)
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $23,911 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $310,000
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$187k less
$123,000 vs $310,000
Glendale
Median Income
$23,911
$66,375 vs $42,464/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
61% lower
488.4 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Glendale
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Glendale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $310,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,268 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $66,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 22.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 84.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 8.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 | 248,083 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 57.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 25.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Glendale's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 15 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 8 and Glendale 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 Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $310,000 median home), income ($42,464 vs $66,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Glendale, AZ are about 1,459 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.