Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 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
Springfield
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
155,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $76k less ($123,000 vs $198,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (7.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Springfield
Cons
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
Median income trails Springfield by $5,213/yr
Springfield, MA
Pros
28% less violent crime than Birmingham
Households earn $5,213 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 7.5%)
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$76k less
$123,000 vs $198,500
Birmingham
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.7% unemployment
Birmingham
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 84.9°F
Springfield
Median Income
$5,213
$47,677 vs $42,464/yr
Springfield
Violent Crime
28% lower
891.4 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $198,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,047 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $47,677 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 235⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 50.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Birmingham leads 13 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 13 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $198,500 median home), income ($42,464 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Springfield, MA are about 976 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.