Performance
Score Breakdown
Homewood
Birmingham
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Birmingham is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
30% higher compared to Homewood.
Housing costs are a major driver: Homewood's average rent is
19% higher than Birmingham's.
| Metric | Homewood | Birmingham | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,400 | $1,181 | +19% |
| Groceries | $440 | $440 | 0% |
| Utilities | $275 | $275 | 0% |
| Transport | $80 | $120 | -33% |
| Healthcare | $625 | $150 | +317% |
| Monthly Total | $2,820 | $2,166 | +30% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 90 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Homewood offers 12% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Homewood delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Homewood is estimated at
$55,000 vs $63,000 in Birmingham.
| Metric | Homewood | Birmingham |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $65,695 | $58,531 |
| Salary Needed | $55,000 | $63,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 71,408 idx | 65,034 idx |
| Household Income | $94,485 | $46,051 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Homewood | Birmingham |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 72.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Homewood has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Birmingham.
Birmingham scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Homewood leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Homewood | Birmingham |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 17 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 30.0/10 | 46.0/10 |
| Walkability | 65.0/10 | 33.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 70.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Birmingham is the larger city
— approximately 0.1x the population of Homewood.
From a growth perspective, Homewood is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Homewood has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Homewood | Birmingham |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 28,830 | 195,033 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.80% | % |
| Median Age | 29.0 | 35.6 |
| Unemployment | 2.10% | 3.20% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Homewood
Advantages
Homewood offers a high quality of life with a strong community feel and excellent local amenities.
The city boasts a low unemployment rate of 2.1% as of April 2026, indicating a robust job market.
Homewood provides convenient access to major employment centers and top-tier healthcare facilities in downtown Birmingham.
The overall cost of living is lower than the national average, despite higher housing costs compared to the broader metro area.
Homewood is noted for its walkability, allowing residents to access many local amenities on foot.
Drawbacks
Housing costs in Homewood are significantly higher than in other parts of the Birmingham metropolitan area.
The city exhibits high car dependency, with 82% of residents using personal vehicles for commuting.
Public transportation options are limited, with only 1% of residents relying on public transit.
Major traffic congestion can be an issue on key routes like US-280, impacting commute times.
The median household income saw a 12.8% decline in 2024, despite a high average household income.
Birmingham
Advantages
The cost of living in Birmingham is approximately 10% lower than the national average, making it highly affordable.
Housing expenses are significantly lower than the national average, with the average rent at $1,181 per month as of July 2026.
Birmingham is a major healthcare hub with several highly-ranked hospitals, including UAB Hospital.
The city's economy is diversifying with notable growth in technology and financial occupations.
The unemployment rate in Birmingham was 3.2% in April 2026, which is lower than the national average.
Drawbacks
Birmingham has a high crime rate, with a crime index of 61.14 and a homicide rate significantly above the national average in 2024.
The city's population has been experiencing a slight annual decline.
Public transportation options are limited, and the city has a low walkability score, indicating high car dependency.
Job growth in Birmingham has been below the U.S. average in recent years.
Utility costs in Birmingham are slightly higher than the national average.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Homewood
#3Alabama, USA
78.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,400
Avg Salary
$65,695
Cost Index
92
Commute
17 min
Transit Score
30.0/10
Walkability
65.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.80%
Unemployment
2.10%
Livability
82
Business
75
Birmingham
#16Alabama, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,181
Avg Salary
$58,531
Cost Index
90
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
46.0/10
Walkability
33.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
68
Business
65
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Homewood and Birmingham.
Open Cost Calculator