Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Tyler leads 17 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $82k less ($123,000 vs $205,200)
Rent averages $118/mo less ($995 vs $1,113)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Tyler by $20,592/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 5.3%)
Tyler, TX
Pros
69% less violent crime than Birmingham
Households earn $20,592 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$82k less
$123,000 vs $205,200
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 92.6 on the COL index
Tyler
Median Income
$20,592
$63,056 vs $42,464/yr
Tyler
Violent Crime
69% lower
391.2 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Tyler
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $205,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,113 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $63,056 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 47.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tyler leads 17 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 6 and Tyler wins 17. 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $205,200 median home), income ($42,464 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Tyler, TX are about 500 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.