Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 Norman leads 14 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Norman
Oklahoma
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $102k less ($123,000 vs $224,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Norman by $20,385/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%)
Norman, OK
Pros
79% less violent crime than Birmingham
Households earn $20,385 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 45.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$102k less
$123,000 vs $224,900
Norman
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Median Income
$20,385
$62,849 vs $42,464/yr
Norman
Violent Crime
79% lower
260.2 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Norman
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $224,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,004 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $62,849 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 68 ✓ 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) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 37.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 4.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 127,701 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Norman is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 14 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 9 and Norman wins 14. 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 Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $224,900 median home), income ($42,464 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Norman, OK are about 613 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.