Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
O'Fallon, MO
🏆 O'Fallon leads 14 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
O'Fallon
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$104,863 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
91,825
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $161k less ($123,000 vs $283,600)
Rent averages $316/mo less ($995 vs $1,311)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than O'Fallon
Cons
Median income trails O'Fallon by $62,399/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 3.1%)
O'Fallon, MO
Pros
Households earn $62,399 more per year on average
95% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (3.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (59.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$161k less
$123,000 vs $283,600
Birmingham
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 87.5°F
O'Fallon
Median Income
$62,399
$104,863 vs $42,464/yr
O'Fallon
Violent Crime
95% lower
59.0 vs 1246.6 per 100k
O'Fallon
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
3.1% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | O'Fallon, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $283,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,311 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $104,863 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 3.1% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 18 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 23 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 12.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 44.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 13.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 91,825 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 80.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs O'Fallon's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, O'Fallon leads 14 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 9 and O'Fallon 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 O'Fallon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $283,600 median home), income ($42,464 vs $104,863), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and O'Fallon, MO are about 424 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.