Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Kansas City, KS
🏆 Birmingham leads 14 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Kansas City
Kansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$56,120 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
155,438
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 40°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kansas City by $13,656/yr
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.0%)
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Households earn $13,656 more per year on average
16% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$11k less
$123,000 vs $133,800
Kansas City
Median Income
$13,656
$56,120 vs $42,464/yr
Kansas City
Violent Crime
16% lower
1047.2 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Kansas City
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.0% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Kansas City, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $133,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,044 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $56,120 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 234⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 276⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 172⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 80.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Kansas City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 38.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 11.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 155,438 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Birmingham leads 14 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 14 and Kansas City wins 9. 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 Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $133,800 median home), income ($42,464 vs $56,120), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Kansas City, KS are about 587 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.