Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 16 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431
Wichita
Kansas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
395,951 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $43k less ($123,000 vs $166,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 44°F
Cons
Median income trails Wichita by $18,248/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 5.7%)
Wichita, KS
Pros
57% less violent crime than Birmingham
Households earn $18,248 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.7%)
Rent averages $80/mo less ($915 vs $995)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$43k less
$123,000 vs $166,400
Wichita
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$18,248
$60,712 vs $42,464/yr
Wichita
Violent Crime
57% lower
538.6 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Wichita
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $166,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 16 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 7 and Wichita wins 16. 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 Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $166,400 median home), income ($42,464 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Wichita, KS are about 658 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.