Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Birmingham to Los Angeles
Comparing Birmingham, Alabama, and Los Angeles, California, using 2024 ACS data reveals distinct trade-offs in population scale, income, housing, and transit. Birmingham offers a smaller population of 198,173 with a median household income of $46,051, a median gross rent of $1,107 per month, and an owner-occupied home value of $158,800, paired with a derived one-way commute of 23 minutes. In contrast, Los Angeles supports 3,857,263 residents with a median household income of $81,939, a median gross rent of $1,933 per month, and a median home value of $921,200, alongside a 33-minute commute. While Birmingham features lower housing costs and shorter commutes, Los Angeles provides higher median earnings accompanied by a simplified state individual income-tax reference of 9.30%, with neither city establishing neighborhood safety, schools, weather, insurance, or job quality.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Los Angeles → BirminghamMoving from Birmingham to Los Angeles
Median Rent Impact
+$826/mo
Moving to Los Angeles costs ~$9,912 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+9.3%
~$9,300 more state tax on a $100k salary in California.
Daily Commute Difference
+10 min / day
Difference of ~83 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
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Search all 32,330 U.S. Census places directly below.Instant results use official 2024 ACS place data. Places with incomplete required signals remain visible in search but cannot be selected.
Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.
LIVE VERDICTBIR → LAX
37/ 100
The offer needs work
The destination absorbs more of the offer.Estimated annual life delta−$7,944after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's
Watch closelyA $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal California tax reference
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Birmingham is about $9,912 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.
Birmingham household income$46,051
Los Angeles household income$81,939
Birmingham gross rent$1,107
Los Angeles gross rent$1,933
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Birmingham | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 198,173 | 3,857,263 |
| Median household income | $46,051 | $81,939 |
| Median gross rent | $1,107 | $1,933 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $158,800 | $921,200 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 9.3% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 23 minutes in Birmingham and 33 minutes in Los Angeles. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.
Decision checklist
- Population scale and density differences
- Median household income variations
- Gross rent and home value gaps
- Derived one-way commute duration
What each city wins
Birmingham
A median owner-occupied home value of $158,800.. Watch lower median home values pair with a modest median household income of $46,051..
Los Angeles
A large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's. Watch a $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal california tax reference.
Frequently asked questions
How do median gross rents compare between Birmingham and Los Angeles?
According to 2024 ACS data, the median gross rent is $1,107 per month in Birmingham, compared to $1,933 per month in Los Angeles.
What are the estimated one-way commute times for both cities?
Based on weighted midpoints in 2024 ACS table B08303, the derived one-way commute estimate is 23 minutes for Birmingham and 33 minutes for Los Angeles.
Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.