Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Birmingham leads 12 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431
Minneapolis
Minnesota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $206k less ($123,000 vs $328,700)
Rent averages $272/mo less ($995 vs $1,267)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 22°F
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $33,868/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 5.8%)
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $33,868 more per year on average
7% less violent crime than Birmingham
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$206k less
$123,000 vs $328,700
Birmingham
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Income
$33,868
$76,332 vs $42,464/yr
Minneapolis
Violent Crime
7% lower
1160.2 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Minneapolis
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $328,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,267 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $76,332 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 305⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Birmingham leads 12 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 12 and Minneapolis wins 11. 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 Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $328,700 median home), income ($42,464 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Minneapolis, MN are about 862 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.