Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 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
Kent
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $355k less ($123,000 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $747/mo less ($995 vs $1,742)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $44,502/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
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $44,502 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Birmingham
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$355k less
$123,000 vs $478,400
Birmingham
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 78.3°F
Kent
Median Income
$44,502
$86,966 vs $42,464/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
61% lower
489.7 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $478,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,742⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $86,966 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 10.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 149⚠ 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 | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 78.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 44.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 135,169 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Birmingham leads 14 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 14 and Kent 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 Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $478,400 median home), income ($42,464 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Kent, WA are about 2,069 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.