Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Birmingham leads 15 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431
Newark
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $189k less ($123,000 vs $312,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (7.5%)
Rent averages $278/mo less ($995 vs $1,273)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
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
Median income trails Newark by $3,996/yr
Newark, NJ
Pros
53% less violent crime than Birmingham
Households earn $3,996 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Birmingham
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$189k less
$123,000 vs $312,300
Birmingham
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
7.5% vs 10.7% unemployment
Birmingham
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 86.8°F
Newark
Median Income
$3,996
$46,460 vs $42,464/yr
Newark
Violent Crime
53% lower
581.2 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $312,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,273 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $46,460 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 50.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Birmingham leads 15 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 15 and Newark wins 8. 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $312,300 median home), income ($42,464 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Newark, NJ are about 854 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.