Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 18 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431
Mesa
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $205k less ($123,000 vs $327,700)
Rent averages $357/mo less ($995 vs $1,352)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 106°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Mesa
Cons
Median income trails Mesa by $31,302/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 4.7%)
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Households earn $31,302 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$205k less
$123,000 vs $327,700
Mesa
Median Income
$31,302
$73,766 vs $42,464/yr
Mesa
Violent Crime
61% lower
482.7 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Mesa
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
14.9°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $327,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $73,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 70 ✓ 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 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 18 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 5 and Mesa wins 18. 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $327,700 median home), income ($42,464 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Mesa, AZ are about 1,433 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.