Birmingham, AL vs Columbus, OH
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
Columbus
76.5
#341 nationally
Columbus leads in median household income ($62,889 vs $38,838). Columbus leads in school rating (6.8 vs 4.2). Columbus leads in walk score (41 vs 36).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Columbus, OH |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 75 (#508) | 76.5 (#341) |
| Population | 196,644 | 913,175 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $137,168 | $248,686 |
| Median Household Income | $38,838 | $62,889 |
| Average Commute | 23.8 min | 23.1 min |
| Walk Score | 36 | 41 |
| Crime Level | High | Moderate |
| School Rating | 4.2 | 6.8 |
| Cost of Living Index | 84 | 93 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+10.4 | D+28.4 |
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
76.5 Score
Columbus, OH
Ohio's capital city on the rise
Median Home
$248,686
Population
913,175
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Midwest
View Columbus, OH →
Try a different matchup
Swap Birmingham for: