Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Renton 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
Renton
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $454k less ($123,000 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $869/mo less ($995 vs $1,864)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $49,828/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 4.2%)
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $49,828 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Birmingham
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$454k less
$123,000 vs $576,800
Birmingham
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$49,828
$92,292 vs $42,464/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
73% lower
339.2 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 89.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 44.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 53.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Renton leads 14 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 9 and Renton 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $576,800 median home), income ($42,464 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Renton, WA are about 2,070 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.