Birmingham, AL vs Richmond, CA
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
Richmond
60.3
#1940 nationally
Richmond leads in median household income ($86,618 vs $38,838). Birmingham leads in cost of living index (84 vs 155). Richmond leads in walk score (59 vs 36).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 75 (#508) | 60.3 (#1940) |
| Population | 196,644 | 114,106 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $137,168 | $610,065 |
| Median Household Income | $38,838 | $86,618 |
| Average Commute | 23.8 min | 34.6 min |
| Walk Score | 36 | 59 |
| Crime Level | High | 25.3 |
| School Rating | 4.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 84 | 155 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+10.4 | D+38.0 |
C
75 Score
Birmingham, AL
Magic City reinventing itself
Median Home
$137,168
Population
196,644
Crime
High
Schools
C-
Southeast
View Birmingham, AL →
D-
60.3 Score
Richmond, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$610,065
Population
114,106
Crime
Very High
Walk Score
59
Pacific
View Richmond, CA →
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