Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Huntsville, AL
🏆 Huntsville leads 15 of 22 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431
Huntsville
Alabama
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$67,874 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($123,000 vs $236,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntsville
Cons
Median income trails Huntsville by $25,410/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 4.6%)
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Households earn $25,410 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$113k less
$123,000 vs $236,300
Huntsville
Median Income
$25,410
$67,874 vs $42,464/yr
Huntsville
Violent Crime
61% lower
483.2 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Huntsville
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Huntsville, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 94.8 |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $236,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,020 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $67,874 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 45.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Huntsville City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 54.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 2.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 | 215,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Huntsville's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 15 of 22 categories. Birmingham wins 7 and Huntsville 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 Huntsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $236,300 median home), income ($42,464 vs $67,874), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Huntsville, AL are about 88 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.