Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Phoenix to Birmingham
Phoenix and Birmingham answer different parts of the relocation question. Birmingham has the lower default annual core-cost model, while the salary, excluded state-tax assumption, and rent-versus-buy choice can reverse that result. Use the citywide ACS figures as reference points, then replace them with the actual offer and housing quote.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Birmingham → PhoenixMoving from Phoenix to Birmingham
Median Rent Impact
-$475/mo
Moving to Birmingham saves ~$5,700/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
-2.5%
~$2,500 saved in state tax on a $100k salary in Alabama.
Daily Commute Difference
-5 min / day
Difference of ~42 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
Adjust the assumptions. Every result updates instantly.
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 VERDICTPHX → BIR
73/ 100
Worth serious consideration
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$20,459after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA median owner-occupied home value of $158,800.
Watch closelyLower median home values pair with a modest median household income of $46,051.
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Birmingham is about $5,700 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.
Phoenix household income$81,332
Birmingham household income$46,051
Phoenix gross rent$1,582
Birmingham gross rent$1,107
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Phoenix | Birmingham |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 1,642,323 | 198,173 |
| Median household income | $81,332 | $46,051 |
| Median gross rent | $1,582 | $1,107 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $420,700 | $158,800 |
| State-tax treatment | 2.5% simplified | Excluded |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 28 minutes in Phoenix and 23 minutes in Birmingham. 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
- Compare actual offers rather than city medians
- Verify neighborhood housing against the citywide ACS benchmark
- Treat renting and buying as separate decisions
- Use the route-specific commute, not only the city estimate
What each city wins
Phoenix
A balanced income-to-rent profile with a low flat state-tax reference. Watch the $420,700 home-value benchmark is materially above dallas despite similar commute time.
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..
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.