Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Birmingham leads 13 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Rialto
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
103,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $295k less ($123,000 vs $418,300)
Rent averages $558/mo less ($995 vs $1,553)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (7.5%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Rialto
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Rialto by $38,286/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
Rialto, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,286 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Birmingham
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $418,300
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$295k less
$123,000 vs $418,300
Birmingham
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
7.5% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Median Income
$38,286
$80,750 vs $42,464/yr
Rialto
Violent Crime
49% lower
641.7 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Rialto
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $418,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,553⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 103,873 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Birmingham leads 13 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 13 and Rialto wins 10. 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $418,300 median home), income ($42,464 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Rialto, CA are about 1,750 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.