Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Birmingham leads 12 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $93k less ($123,000 vs $215,500)
Rent averages $255/mo less ($995 vs $1,250)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (7.5%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 42°F
Cons
Median income trails Philadelphia by $15,073/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
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
27% less violent crime than Birmingham
Households earn $15,073 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Birmingham
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 7.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$93k less
$123,000 vs $215,500
Birmingham
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Philadelphia
Median Income
$15,073
$57,537 vs $42,464/yr
Philadelphia
Violent Crime
27% lower
908.7 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $215,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,250 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $57,537 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 230⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 239⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 50.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Birmingham leads 12 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 12 and Philadelphia wins 11. 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $215,500 median home), income ($42,464 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Philadelphia, PA are about 785 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.