Birmingham, AL vs Katy, 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
Katy
72.3
#905 nationally
Katy leads in median household income ($114,917 vs $38,838). Birmingham leads in cost of living index (84 vs 105). Birmingham leads in average commute (23.8 min vs 29.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Katy, TX |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 75 (#508) | 72.3 (#905) |
| Population | 196,644 | 26,360 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $137,168 | $337,000 |
| Median Household Income | $38,838 | $114,917 |
| Average Commute | 23.8 min | 29.4 min |
| Walk Score | 36 | N/A |
| Crime Level | High | 6.2 |
| School Rating | 4.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 84 | 105 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+10.4 | D+1.6 |
Data coverage note: Katy is missing data for 1 metric that Birmingham has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
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-
72.3 Score
Katy, TX
Small Texas city with local appeal
Median Home
$337,000
Population
26,360
Crime
Moderate
Median Income
$114,917
Southwest
View Katy, TX →