Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Tacoma 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
Tacoma
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $292k less ($123,000 vs $415,300)
Rent averages $494/mo less ($995 vs $1,489)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $36,621/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 5.4%)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $36,621 more per year on average
15% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$292k less
$123,000 vs $415,300
Birmingham
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$36,621
$79,085 vs $42,464/yr
Tacoma
Violent Crime
15% lower
1063.0 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Tacoma
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 280⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tacoma leads 13 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 10 and Tacoma 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $415,300 median home), income ($42,464 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Tacoma, WA are about 2,078 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.