Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Birmingham leads 14 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1
Median Household Income
$51,451 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $40k less ($123,000 vs $162,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (7.5%)
Rent averages $145/mo less ($995 vs $1,140)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 37°F
Cons
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Waterbury by $8,987/yr
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waterbury, CT
Pros
74% less violent crime than Birmingham
Households earn $8,987 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 7.5%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$40k less
$123,000 vs $162,800
Birmingham
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
7.5% vs 9.8% unemployment
Birmingham
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Median Income
$8,987
$51,451 vs $42,464/yr
Waterbury
Violent Crime
74% lower
322.5 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $162,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,140 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $51,451 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 52.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Birmingham leads 14 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 14 and Waterbury wins 9. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $162,800 median home), income ($42,464 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Waterbury, CT are about 934 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.