Population

Birmingham

199,322

Waterloo

66,947

Median Income

Birmingham

$44,376

Waterloo

$56,344

Home Value

Birmingham

$138,600

Waterloo

$150,200

Rent

Birmingham

$1,047

Waterloo

$896

Crime Rate

Birmingham

12.48

Waterloo

4.76

Cost of Living

Birmingham

85.2

Waterloo

91.8

Avg Temp

Birmingham

N/A

Waterloo

N/A

Unemployment

Birmingham

6.1%

Waterloo

6.4%

Loading map…

How Similar Are Birmingham & Waterloo?

Waterloo is Birmingham's #25 most similar city

4/10

4 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Birmingham

199,322

vs

Waterloo

66,947

Different · 66% difference

Birmingham (199,322) is about 3.0x larger than Waterloo (66,947).

Violent Crime

Birmingham

12.48

vs

Waterloo

4.76

Different · 62% difference
🚨

Birmingham's violent crime is significantly higher than Waterloo's — 62% difference.

Property Crime

🔒

Birmingham

40.31

vs

Waterloo

24.45

Different · 39% difference

Birmingham has a 39% higher property crime than Waterloo.

Political Leaning

Birmingham

44.2%

vs

Waterloo

48.8%

Match · 9% difference
🗳️

Both cities lean Democratic with similar vote shares — 9% difference.

Unemployment

💼

Birmingham

6.1%

vs

Waterloo

6.4%

Match · 5% difference

Both cities have similar unemployment — just a 5% difference.

Median Income

Birmingham

$44,376

vs

Waterloo

$56,344

Different · 21% difference
💰

Waterloo has a 21% higher median income than Birmingham.

Home Values

🏠

Birmingham

$138,600

vs

Waterloo

$150,200

Match · 8% difference

Both cities have similar home values — just a 8% difference.

Education

Birmingham

21.2%

vs

Waterloo

14.9%

Different · 30% difference
🎓

Birmingham has a 30% higher education than Waterloo.

Demographics

🌍

Birmingham

25.6%

vs

Waterloo

69.1%

Different · 63% difference

Waterloo's demographics is significantly higher than Birmingham's — 63% difference.

Cost of Living

Birmingham

85.2

vs

Waterloo

91.8

Match · 7% difference
💵

Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 7% difference.

4 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Birmingham and Waterloo share several key characteristics.

At a Glance

0

Birmingham

vsof 8

0

Waterloo

Birmingham leads in 4 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — Birmingham leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Waterloo has a fair market rent (1br) of $801 vs $1,155 in Birmingham (44% lower). Waterloo has a fair market rent (2br) of $1,051 vs $1,266 in Birmingham (20% lower). Birmingham scores 83.9 on the food index (100 = national avg) vs 93.1 in Waterloo.

Overall Cost Index

Birmingham85.2
Waterloo91.8

Housing Index

Birmingham93.7
Waterloo94.5

Food Index

Birmingham83.9
Waterloo93.1

Transportation Index

Birmingham80.1
Waterloo86.1

Healthcare Index

Birmingham87.1
Waterloo94.5

Utilities Index

Birmingham89.1
Waterloo94.7

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Birmingham$37,482
Waterloo$40,397

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Birmingham$88,594
Waterloo$95,483

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Birmingham$1,155
Waterloo$801

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Birmingham$1,266
Waterloo$1,051

Housing Market — Waterloo leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Waterloo has a vacancy rate of 10.0% compared to 18.7% in Birmingham. Birmingham has a median property tax of $930 vs $2,498 in Waterloo (63% lower). Waterloo has a owner-occupied of 61.1% compared to 45.1% in Birmingham.

Median Home Value

Birmingham$138,600
Waterloo$150,200

Median Rent

Birmingham$1,047
Waterloo$896

Median Property Tax

Birmingham$930
Waterloo$2,498

Owner-Occupied

Birmingham45.1%
Waterloo61.1%

Vacancy Rate

Birmingham18.7%
Waterloo10.0%

Single-Family Homes

Birmingham59.6%
Waterloo72.9%

Jobs & Economy — Waterloo leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Birmingham: 97,022 vs Waterloo: 34,480 for labor force. Waterloo has a poverty rate of 16.4% compared to 25.2% in Birmingham. Waterloo has a median household income of $56,344 vs $44,376 in Birmingham (21% higher).

Median Household Income

Birmingham$44,376
Waterloo$56,344

Per Capita Income

Birmingham$31,616
Waterloo$33,372

Poverty Rate

Birmingham25.2%
Waterloo16.4%

Unemployment Rate

Birmingham6.1%
Waterloo6.4%

Labor Force

Birmingham97,022
Waterloo34,480

Mean Commute

Birmingham20 min
WaterlooN/A

Work from Home

Birmingham8.5%
Waterloo7.1%

Private Sector

Birmingham85.6%
Waterloo93.3%

Government Sector

Birmingham40.1%
Waterloo44.2%

Crime & Safety — Waterloo leads

Source: FBI UCR

Waterloo has a murder rate (per 1k) of 0.05 compared to 0.59 in Birmingham. Waterloo has a robbery rate (per 1k) of 0.35 compared to 2.01 in Birmingham. Waterloo has a violent crime rate (per 1k) of 4.76 compared to 12.48 in Birmingham.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Birmingham12.48
Waterloo4.76

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Birmingham40.31
Waterloo24.45

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Birmingham0.59
Waterloo0.05

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Birmingham2.01
Waterloo0.35

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Birmingham9.72
Waterloo3.98

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Birmingham7.30
Waterloo5.86

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Birmingham24.94
Waterloo16.59

Violent Crime Clearance

Birmingham9.8%
Waterloo58.2%

Property Crime Clearance

Birmingham1.9%
Waterloo23.4%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

BirminghamN/A
WaterlooN/A

Avg Annual High

BirminghamN/A
WaterlooN/A

Avg Annual Low

BirminghamN/A
WaterlooN/A

Sunny Days per Year

BirminghamN/A
WaterlooN/A

Annual Rainfall

BirminghamN/A
WaterlooN/A

Annual Snowfall

BirminghamN/A
WaterlooN/A

Avg Humidity

BirminghamN/A
WaterlooN/A

Schools & Education — Birmingham leads

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Birmingham has a bachelor's degree or higher of 21.2% compared to 14.9% in Waterloo. Birmingham has a high school diploma or higher of 40.7% compared to 38.3% in Waterloo.

Public Schools

Birmingham0
Waterloo0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

BirminghamN/A
WaterlooN/A

Colleges & Universities

Birmingham0
Waterloo0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Birmingham21.2%
Waterloo14.9%

High School Diploma or Higher

Birmingham40.7%
Waterloo38.3%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Birmingham has a population of 199,322, about 3x the size of Waterloo (66,947).

Population

Birmingham199,322
Waterloo66,947

Median Age

Birmingham36
Waterloo37

Avg Household Size

Birmingham2.1
Waterloo2.3

Married Population

Birmingham25.6%
Waterloo34.8%

Foreign Born

Birmingham4.4%
Waterloo9.5%

White

Birmingham25.6%
Waterloo69.1%

Black

Birmingham67.1%
Waterloo17.2%

Hispanic

Birmingham4.9%
Waterloo7.6%

Asian

Birmingham1.4%
Waterloo2.6%

Birmingham

Waterloo

Healthcare — Birmingham leads

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Birmingham: 3.7 vs Waterloo: 3.5 for avg cms rating (out of 5).

Nearby Hospitals

Birmingham5
Waterloo5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Birmingham3.7
Waterloo3.5

With Emergency Services

Birmingham5
Waterloo5

Transportation & Commute — Birmingham leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Birmingham has a public transit of 1.3% compared to 0.4% in Waterloo. Birmingham has a work from home of 8.5% compared to 7.1% in Waterloo. Birmingham has a bicycle of 0.4% compared to 0.4% in Waterloo.

Mean Commute Time

Birmingham20 min
WaterlooN/A

Drive Alone

Birmingham74.4%
Waterloo77.8%

Public Transit

Birmingham1.3%
Waterloo0.4%

Bicycle

Birmingham0.4%
Waterloo0.4%

Work from Home

Birmingham8.5%
Waterloo7.1%

Airports

Birmingham0
Waterloo0

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

Explore These Cities

Compare Different Cities