Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
West Jordan, UT
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
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
West Jordan
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.5
Median Household Income
$99,002 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
116,383
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $289k less ($123,000 vs $412,100)
Rent averages $494/mo less ($995 vs $1,489)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 40°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than West Jordan
Cons
Median income trails West Jordan by $56,538/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 4.2%)
West Jordan, UT
Pros
Households earn $56,538 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,100
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 98.5 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$289k less
$123,000 vs $412,100
West Jordan
Median Income
$56,538
$99,002 vs $42,464/yr
West Jordan
Violent Crime
76% lower
294.2 vs 1246.6 per 100k
West Jordan
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | West Jordan, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.5 |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $412,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $99,002 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 15.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Jordan District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 55.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 116,383 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 77.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 28.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs West Jordan's 98.5 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Birmingham wins 11 and West Jordan wins 11. 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 West Jordan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $412,100 median home), income ($42,464 vs $99,002), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and West Jordan, UT are about 1,467 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.