Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Orlando, FL
🏆 Orlando leads 16 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431
Orlando
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $210k less ($123,000 vs $332,700)
Rent averages $514/mo less ($995 vs $1,509)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Orlando
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Orlando by $23,828/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 5.2%)
Orlando, FL
Pros
Households earn $23,828 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $332,700
Higher rents — median is $1,509/mo
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 101.1 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$210k less
$123,000 vs $332,700
Orlando
Median Income
$23,828
$66,292 vs $42,464/yr
Orlando
Violent Crime
33% lower
835.8 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Orlando
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Orlando, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 101.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $332,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,509⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $66,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 209⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 220⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 192⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | ORANGE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 51.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 | 307,738 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Orlando's 101.1 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orlando leads 16 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 7 and Orlando 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 Orlando or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $332,700 median home), income ($42,464 vs $66,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Orlando, FL are about 482 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.