Population

Birmingham

199,322

Rochester

209,720

Median Income

Birmingham

$44,376

Rochester

$46,628

Home Value

Birmingham

$138,600

Rochester

$120,600

Rent

Birmingham

$1,047

Rochester

$1,039

Crime Rate

Birmingham

12.48

Rochester

5.82

Cost of Living

Birmingham

85.2

Rochester

87.9

Avg Temp

Birmingham

N/A

Rochester

N/A

Unemployment

Birmingham

6.1%

Rochester

7.9%

Loading map…

How Similar Are Birmingham & Rochester?

Rochester is Birmingham's #6 most similar city

5/10

5 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Birmingham

199,322

vs

Rochester

209,720

Match · 5% difference

Both cities have similar populations — Birmingham at 199,322 and Rochester at 209,720.

Violent Crime

Birmingham

12.48

vs

Rochester

5.82

Different · 53% difference
🚨

Birmingham's violent crime is significantly higher than Rochester's — 53% difference.

Property Crime

🔒

Birmingham

40.31

vs

Rochester

32.89

Different · 18% difference

Birmingham has a 18% higher property crime than Rochester.

Political Leaning

Birmingham

44.2%

vs

Rochester

40.5%

Match · 8% difference
🗳️

Both cities lean Democratic with similar vote shares — 8% difference.

Unemployment

💼

Birmingham

6.1%

vs

Rochester

7.9%

Different · 23% difference

Rochester has a 23% higher unemployment than Birmingham.

Median Income

Birmingham

$44,376

vs

Rochester

$46,628

Match · 5% difference
💰

Both cities have similar median income — just a 5% difference.

Home Values

🏠

Birmingham

$138,600

vs

Rochester

$120,600

Different · 13% difference

Birmingham has a 13% higher home values than Rochester.

Education

Birmingham

21.2%

vs

Rochester

19.9%

Match · 6% difference
🎓

Both cities have similar education — just a 6% difference.

Demographics

🌍

Birmingham

25.6%

vs

Rochester

41.5%

Different · 38% difference

Rochester has a 38% higher demographics than Birmingham.

Cost of Living

Birmingham

85.2

vs

Rochester

87.9

Match · 3% difference
💵

Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 3% difference.

5 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Birmingham and Rochester share several key characteristics.

At a Glance

0

Birmingham

vsof 8

0

Rochester

Birmingham leads in 5 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — Birmingham leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Birmingham has a fair market rent (2br) of $1,266 vs $1,573 in Rochester (20% lower). Rochester scores 71.3 on the transportation index (100 = national avg) vs 80.1 in Birmingham. Birmingham has a fair market rent (1br) of $1,155 vs $1,256 in Rochester (8% lower).

Overall Cost Index

Birmingham85.2
Rochester87.9

Housing Index

Birmingham93.7
Rochester101.7

Food Index

Birmingham83.9
Rochester85.6

Transportation Index

Birmingham80.1
Rochester71.3

Healthcare Index

Birmingham87.1
Rochester88.5

Utilities Index

Birmingham89.1
Rochester91.7

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Birmingham$37,482
Rochester$38,661

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Birmingham$88,594
Rochester$91,380

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Birmingham$1,155
Rochester$1,256

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Birmingham$1,266
Rochester$1,573

Housing Market — Birmingham leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Rochester has a vacancy rate of 10.7% compared to 18.7% in Birmingham. Birmingham has a median property tax of $930 vs $3,074 in Rochester (70% lower). Birmingham has a owner-occupied of 45.1% compared to 37.2% in Rochester.

Median Home Value

Birmingham$138,600
Rochester$120,600

Median Rent

Birmingham$1,047
Rochester$1,039

Median Property Tax

Birmingham$930
Rochester$3,074

Owner-Occupied

Birmingham45.1%
Rochester37.2%

Vacancy Rate

Birmingham18.7%
Rochester10.7%

Single-Family Homes

Birmingham59.6%
Rochester50.3%

Jobs & Economy — Birmingham leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Birmingham has a unemployment rate of 6.1% compared to 7.9% in Rochester. Rochester has a work from home of 10.8% compared to 8.5% in Birmingham. Rochester: 105,967 vs Birmingham: 97,022 for labor force.

Median Household Income

Birmingham$44,376
Rochester$46,628

Per Capita Income

Birmingham$31,616
Rochester$30,451

Poverty Rate

Birmingham25.2%
Rochester26.6%

Unemployment Rate

Birmingham6.1%
Rochester7.9%

Labor Force

Birmingham97,022
Rochester105,967

Mean Commute

Birmingham20 min
RochesterN/A

Work from Home

Birmingham8.5%
Rochester10.8%

Private Sector

Birmingham85.6%
Rochester80.2%

Government Sector

Birmingham40.1%
Rochester39.8%

Crime & Safety — Rochester leads

Source: FBI UCR

Rochester has a murder rate (per 1k) of 0.13 compared to 0.59 in Birmingham. Rochester has a assault rate (per 1k) of 3.97 compared to 9.72 in Birmingham. Rochester has a violent crime rate (per 1k) of 5.82 compared to 12.48 in Birmingham.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Birmingham12.48
Rochester5.82

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Birmingham40.31
Rochester32.89

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Birmingham0.59
Rochester0.13

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Birmingham2.01
Rochester1.53

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Birmingham9.72
Rochester3.97

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Birmingham7.30
Rochester4.05

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Birmingham24.94
Rochester17.96

Violent Crime Clearance

Birmingham9.8%
Rochester45.8%

Property Crime Clearance

Birmingham1.9%
Rochester10.3%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

BirminghamN/A
RochesterN/A

Avg Annual High

BirminghamN/A
RochesterN/A

Avg Annual Low

BirminghamN/A
RochesterN/A

Sunny Days per Year

BirminghamN/A
RochesterN/A

Annual Rainfall

BirminghamN/A
RochesterN/A

Annual Snowfall

BirminghamN/A
RochesterN/A

Avg Humidity

BirminghamN/A
RochesterN/A

Schools & Education — Birmingham leads

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Birmingham has a bachelor's degree or higher of 21.2% compared to 19.9% in Rochester. Birmingham has a high school diploma or higher of 40.7% compared to 38.4% in Rochester.

Public Schools

Birmingham0
Rochester0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

BirminghamN/A
RochesterN/A

Colleges & Universities

Birmingham0
Rochester0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Birmingham21.2%
Rochester19.9%

High School Diploma or Higher

Birmingham40.7%
Rochester38.4%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Rochester has a population of 209,720, about 1.1x the size of Birmingham (199,322). Rochester skews younger with a median age of 33.5 vs 35.9.

Population

Birmingham199,322
Rochester209,720

Median Age

Birmingham36
Rochester34

Avg Household Size

Birmingham2.1
Rochester2.2

Married Population

Birmingham25.6%
Rochester22.4%

Foreign Born

Birmingham4.4%
Rochester8.3%

White

Birmingham25.6%
Rochester41.5%

Black

Birmingham67.1%
Rochester37.5%

Hispanic

Birmingham4.9%
Rochester19.9%

Asian

Birmingham1.4%
Rochester3.2%

Birmingham

Rochester

Healthcare — Birmingham leads

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Birmingham: 3.7 vs Rochester: 1.3 for avg cms rating (out of 5). Birmingham: 5 vs Rochester: 4 for with emergency services.

Nearby Hospitals

Birmingham5
Rochester5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Birmingham3.7
Rochester1.3

With Emergency Services

Birmingham5
Rochester4

Transportation & Commute — Rochester leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Rochester has a public transit of 5.4% compared to 1.3% in Birmingham. Rochester has a bicycle of 1.1% compared to 0.4% in Birmingham. Rochester has a work from home of 10.8% compared to 8.5% in Birmingham.

Mean Commute Time

Birmingham20 min
RochesterN/A

Drive Alone

Birmingham74.4%
Rochester65.8%

Public Transit

Birmingham1.3%
Rochester5.4%

Bicycle

Birmingham0.4%
Rochester1.1%

Work from Home

Birmingham8.5%
Rochester10.8%

Airports

Birmingham0
Rochester0

Cities Similar to Birmingham, AL

Compare Birmingham against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.

🧬

City Comparison

8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living

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