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
#21Alabama, USA
72.0 / 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
#3Alabama, USA
80.0 / 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
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Decatur and Vestavia Hills.
Open Cost Calculator