Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 13 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $181k less ($123,000 vs $304,000)
Rent averages $734/mo less ($995 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 104°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $46,002/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 4.5%)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Households earn $46,002 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 55°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$181k less
$123,000 vs $304,000
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$46,002
$88,466 vs $42,464/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
81% lower
235.7 vs 1246.6 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
13.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 13 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 10 and San Tan Valley wins 13. 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $304,000 median home), income ($42,464 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 1,426 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.