Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Norfolk leads 12 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431
Norfolk
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$60,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
236,973 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $131k less ($123,000 vs $254,200)
Rent averages $193/mo less ($995 vs $1,188)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Norfolk
Cons
Median income trails Norfolk by $18,534/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 6.7%)
Norfolk, VA
Pros
62% less violent crime than Birmingham
Households earn $18,534 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.7%)
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$131k less
$123,000 vs $254,200
Norfolk
Median Income
$18,534
$60,998 vs $42,464/yr
Norfolk
Violent Crime
62% lower
469.5 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Norfolk
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $254,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,188 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $60,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 124⚠ 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) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 32.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 45.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 | 236,973 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norfolk leads 12 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 11 and Norfolk wins 12. 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 Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $254,200 median home), income ($42,464 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Norfolk, VA are about 640 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.