Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hoover, AL
VS
Kenosha, WI
🏆 Hoover leads 17 of 23 categories
Hoover
Alabama
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Kenosha
Wisconsin
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,963
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
99,493 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hoover, AL
Pros
73% less violent crime than Kenosha
Households earn $36,802 more per year on average
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Kenosha, WI
Pros
Homes cost $172k less ($194,400 vs $366,200)
Rent averages $273/mo less ($1,079 vs $1,352)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $36,802/yr
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Hoover
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Median Income
$36,802
$101,765 vs $64,963/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
73% lower
78.0 vs 285.7 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.4% unemployment
Hoover
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 83.8°F
Kenosha
Median Home Value
$172k less
$194,400 vs $366,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hoover, AL | Kenosha, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $366,200⚠ High | $194,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High | $1,079 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,765 ✓ Higher | $64,963 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.7% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hoover City | Kenosha School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 59.0" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 36.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,995 | 99,493 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.5% ✓ Higher | 58.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 23.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.1% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hoover's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Kenosha's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 17 of 23 categories. Hoover wins 17 and Kenosha wins 6. 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 Hoover to Kenosha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($366,200 vs $194,400 median home), income ($101,765 vs $64,963), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hoover, AL and Kenosha, WI are about 639 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.