Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem leads 12 of 21 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
Salem
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
175,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $227k less ($123,000 vs $349,500)
Rent averages $229/mo less ($995 vs $1,224)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Salem by $25,076/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 6.1%)
Salem, OR
Pros
Households earn $25,076 more per year on average
57% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$227k less
$123,000 vs $349,500
Birmingham
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Median Income
$25,076
$67,540 vs $42,464/yr
Salem
Violent Crime
57% lower
532.2 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Salem
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,224 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $67,540 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 133⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Salem leads 12 of 21 categories. Birmingham wins 9 and Salem 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $349,500 median home), income ($42,464 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Salem, OR are about 2,072 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.