Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Kenosha, WI
🏆 Kenosha leads 12 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Kenosha
Wisconsin
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,963 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($123,000 vs $194,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 31°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Kenosha
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Rent averages $84/mo less ($995 vs $1,079)
Cons
Median income trails Kenosha by $22,499/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 5.4%)
Kenosha, WI
Pros
77% less violent crime than Birmingham
Households earn $22,499 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$71k less
$123,000 vs $194,400
Birmingham
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 83.8°F
Kenosha
Median Income
$22,499
$64,963 vs $42,464/yr
Kenosha
Violent Crime
77% lower
285.7 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Kenosha
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Kenosha, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $194,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,079 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $64,963 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Kenosha School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 31.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 36.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 99,493 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Kenosha's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kenosha leads 12 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 11 and Kenosha wins 12. 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 Kenosha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $194,400 median home), income ($42,464 vs $64,963), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Kenosha, WI are about 629 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.