Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Omaha leads 16 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431
Omaha
Nebraska
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
97 ✓ Safer
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $87k less ($123,000 vs $210,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 32°F
Rent averages $104/mo less ($995 vs $1,099)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Omaha by $27,738/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 4.2%)
Omaha, NE
Pros
Households earn $27,738 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 39.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$87k less
$123,000 vs $210,300
Birmingham
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 85.2°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 92.6 on the COL index
Omaha
Median Income
$27,738
$70,202 vs $42,464/yr
Omaha
Violent Crime
70% lower
369.0 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Omaha
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $210,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,099 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $70,202 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 33.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 27.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 16 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 7 and Omaha wins 16. 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 Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $210,300 median home), income ($42,464 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Omaha, NE are about 737 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.