Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine 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
Irvine
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $903k less ($123,000 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1754/mo less ($995 vs $2,749)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $80,484/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 5.5%)
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $80,484 more per year on average
93% less violent crime than Birmingham
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Birmingham
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$903k less
$123,000 vs $1,025,700
Birmingham
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Median Income
$80,484
$122,948 vs $42,464/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
93% lower
84.0 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Irvine
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 22 ✓ 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) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 14 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 9 and Irvine 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($42,464 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Irvine, CA are about 1,776 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.