Birmingham, AL vs Ferndale, MI
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Birmingham
75
#508 nationally
Ferndale
82.8
#19 nationally
Ferndale leads in median household income ($86,120 vs $38,838). Ferndale leads in walk score (67 vs 36). Birmingham leads in cost of living index (84 vs 99).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Ferndale, MI |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 75 (#508) | 82.8 (#19) |
| Population | 196,644 | 19,083 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $137,168 | $254,401 |
| Median Household Income | $38,838 | $86,120 |
| Average Commute | 23.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Walk Score | 36 | 67 |
| Crime Level | High | 5.6 |
| School Rating | 4.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 84 | 99 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+10.4 | D+10.6 |
C
75 Score
Birmingham, AL
Magic City reinventing itself
Median Home
$137,168
Population
196,644
Crime
High
Schools
C-
Southeast
View Birmingham, AL →
B-
82.8 Score
Ferndale, MI
Small Michigan city with local appeal
Median Home
$254,401
Population
19,083
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
67
Midwest
View Ferndale, MI →
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