City Comparison
Decatur vs Vestavia Hills
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Vestavia Hills scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Decatur
Vestavia Hills
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Decatur is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
100% lower compared to Vestavia Hills.
Housing costs are a major driver: Decatur's average rent is
100% lower than Vestavia Hills's.
| Metric | Decatur | Vestavia Hills | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $0 | $1,975 | -100% |
| Groceries | $0 | $425 | -100% |
| Utilities | $0 | $180 | -100% |
| Transport | $0 | $150 | -100% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $120 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $0 | $2,850 | -100% |
| Cost Index | 124 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Vestavia Hills offers 17% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Decatur | Vestavia Hills |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $56,363 | $68,012 |
| Salary Needed | $0 | $62,960 |
| Household Income | $68,116 | $134,369 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Decatur | Vestavia Hills |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 70.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Vestavia Hills has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,500 minutes (58 hours) per year compared to Decatur.
Vestavia Hills scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Vestavia Hills leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Decatur | Vestavia Hills |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 26 min | 19 min |
| Transit Score | 0.0/10 | 20.0/10 |
| Walkability | 0.0/10 | 22.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Decatur is the larger city
— approximately 1.5x the population of Vestavia Hills.
From a growth perspective, Vestavia Hills is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Vestavia Hills has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Decatur | Vestavia Hills |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,361 | 38,616 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.30% | 2.48% |
| Median Age | 40.5 | 41.7 |
| Unemployment | 3.00% | 2.60% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Decatur
Advantages
The cost of living in Decatur is notably lower than the national average, including housing, utilities, and transportation.
Decatur boasts a higher homeownership rate (74.6% in 2024) compared to the national average.
The median property value in Decatur increased by 9.46% between 2023 and 2024.
The average commute time of 26 minutes is shorter than the national average.
Decatur's job market is predicted to have a positive future growth of 30.5% over the next ten years.
Drawbacks
The overall crime rate in Decatur is slightly higher than the average U.S. city, with a C- grade for safety.
Amenities in Decatur received a concerning score of 'F' in a livability assessment.
The city exhibits a medium to high car dependency due to limited public transit options and walkability.
The average salary in Decatur ($56,363 in June 2026) is lower than the national average.
Humidity levels can be uncomfortably high during the summer months from June to August.
Vestavia Hills
Advantages
Vestavia Hills boasts a top-rated public school system, consistently ranked among the best in Alabama.
The city offers a high quality of life with abundant recreational parks, green spaces, and community events.
Vestavia Hills is considered a very safe community with a high safety score and low violent crime rates.
Residents benefit from a relatively short average commute time of 19.3 minutes.
The median household income of $134,369 in 2024 is significantly higher than the national average.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in Vestavia Hills is 24% higher than the national average, primarily due to high housing costs.
Housing costs, including both renting and buying, are approximately 90% higher than the national average.
The city is largely car-dependent with low walkability (score of 22) and minimal public transit options.
Employment in Vestavia Hills experienced a decline of -1.89% from 2023 to 2024.
Natural gas prices in Vestavia Hills averaged $23.38 per thousand cubic feet in November 2024, which was approximately 56.6% more than the U.S. average.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Decatur
#78Alabama, USA
58.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$56,363
Cost Index
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
0.0/10
Walkability
0.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.30%
Unemployment
3.00%
Livability
73
Business
0
Vestavia Hills
#34Alabama, USA
65.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,975
Avg Salary
$68,012
Cost Index
124
Commute
19 min
Transit Score
20.0/10
Walkability
22.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
2.48%
Unemployment
2.60%
Livability
88
Business
75
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