Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Palm Coast, FL
🏆 Palm Coast leads 12 of 20 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Palm Coast
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,824 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $160k less ($123,000 vs $283,300)
Rent averages $626/mo less ($995 vs $1,621)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Palm Coast
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Palm Coast by $26,360/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 4.1%)
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Households earn $26,360 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 55°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,621/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Birmingham
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$160k less
$123,000 vs $283,300
Birmingham
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 87.8°F
Palm Coast
Median Income
$26,360
$68,824 vs $42,464/yr
Palm Coast
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Palm Coast, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $283,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,621⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $68,824 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 13.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | FLAGLER |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 51.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 91,082 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 50.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 77.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 29.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Palm Coast's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 12 of 20 categories. Birmingham wins 8 and Palm Coast 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 Palm Coast or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $283,300 median home), income ($42,464 vs $68,824), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Palm Coast, FL are about 428 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.