Birmingham, AL vs Raleigh, NC
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
Raleigh
71
#1035 nationally
Raleigh leads in median household income ($82,424 vs $38,838). Raleigh leads in school rating (7.5 vs 4.2). Birmingham leads in cost of living index (84 vs 105).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 75 (#508) | 71 (#1035) |
| Population | 196,644 | 470,763 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $137,168 | $435,237 |
| Median Household Income | $38,838 | $82,424 |
| Average Commute | 23.8 min | 24.3 min |
| Walk Score | 36 | 31 |
| Crime Level | High | 32.0 |
| School Rating | 4.2 | 7.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 84 | 105 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+10.4 | D+25.6 |
C
75 Score
Birmingham, AL
Magic City reinventing itself
Median Home
$137,168
Population
196,644
Crime
High
Schools
C-
Southeast
View Birmingham, AL →
C-
71 Score
Raleigh, NC
Research Triangle innovation hub
Median Home
$435,237
Population
470,763
Crime
Moderate-Low
Schools
B+
Southeast
View Raleigh, NC →