Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 15 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $125k less ($123,000 vs $247,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 42°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $23,623/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 5.0%)
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
79% less violent crime than Birmingham
Households earn $23,623 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$125k less
$123,000 vs $247,900
Birmingham
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 86.9°F
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$23,623
$66,087 vs $42,464/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
79% lower
262.0 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 93.1 |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $247,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,065 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $66,087 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 9.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 46.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 49.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 14.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 54.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 15 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 8 and Lexington-Fayette urban county 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 Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $247,900 median home), income ($42,464 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 338 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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