Birmingham, AL vs Houston, TX
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
Houston
72.1
#926 nationally
Houston leads in median household income ($57,791 vs $38,838). Houston leads in walk score (48 vs 36). Houston leads in school rating (5.5 vs 4.2).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 75 (#508) | 72.1 (#926) |
| Population | 196,644 | 2,314,157 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $137,168 | $263,563 |
| Median Household Income | $38,838 | $57,791 |
| Average Commute | 23.8 min | 28.5 min |
| Walk Score | 36 | 48 |
| Crime Level | High | Moderate-High |
| School Rating | 4.2 | 5.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 84 | 96 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+10.4 | D+5.5 |
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-
72.1 Score
Houston, TX
Space City with global energy
Median Home
$263,563
Population
2,314,157
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Southwest
View Houston, TX →
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