Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Syracuse leads 12 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Syracuse
New York
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$43,584 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
146,134
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (7.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Syracuse
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
Syracuse, NY
Pros
39% less violent crime than Birmingham
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 7.5%)
Snowy winters — about 128" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Birmingham
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Median Income
$1,120
$43,584 vs $42,464/yr
Syracuse
Violent Crime
39% lower
765.3 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 95.2 |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $43,584 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 29.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Syracuse leads 12 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 11 and Syracuse 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 Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $117,900 median home), income ($42,464 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Syracuse, NY are about 874 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.