Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Urban Honolulu, HI
🏆 Urban Honolulu leads 17 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431
Urban Honolulu
Hawaii
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,772 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
348,547 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $683k less ($123,000 vs $805,500)
Rent averages $739/mo less ($995 vs $1,734)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Urban Honolulu
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Urban Honolulu by $40,308/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 5.1%)
Urban Honolulu, HI
Pros
Households earn $40,308 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (185.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 55°F
More college-educated — 39.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $805,500
Higher rents — median is $1,734/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 106.8 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$683k less
$123,000 vs $805,500
Birmingham
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 79.0°F
Urban Honolulu
Median Income
$40,308
$82,772 vs $42,464/yr
Urban Honolulu
Violent Crime
85% lower
185.2 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Urban Honolulu
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.1% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Urban Honolulu, HI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 106.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $805,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,734⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $82,772 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Hawaii Department of Education |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 76.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 79.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 31.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 | 348,547 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 48.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 21.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Urban Honolulu's 106.8 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Urban Honolulu leads 17 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 6 and Urban Honolulu 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 Urban Honolulu or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $805,500 median home), income ($42,464 vs $82,772), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Urban Honolulu, HI are about 4,357 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.