Birmingham receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Atlantic City-Hammonton
Birmingham
Opportunity
50 · Bottom 39%
vs58 · Top 46%
Growth
47 · Bottom 45%
vs61 · Top 32%
Climate
70 · Top 37%
vs74 · Top 24%
Physical resilience
38 · Bottom 28%
vs50 · Bottom 43%
Housing affordability
84 · Bottom 24%
vs92 · Bottom 43%
Access
92 · Top 21%
vs97 · Top 12%
Economic stability
48 · Bottom 46%
vs51 · Top 49%
Measured values
| Metric | Atlantic City-Hammonton | Birmingham | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 371,211 | 1,184,613 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $82,105 | $71,498 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $45,232 | $40,359 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 460/sq mi | 224/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $331,700 | $240,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,373 | $1,172 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 72.1% | 70.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.2% | -1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.8% | 33.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 13.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,480 | 4,727 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.0 | 4.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -10.4% | 32.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.0" | 56.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 15 mi | 8 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 29.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 44.5 | 38.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Atlantic City-Hammonton
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, coastal flooding, hurricane.
Birmingham
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Atlantic City-Hammonton
61
Your Score
58
Area Score
Birmingham
69
Your Score
66
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ Metro Area · Birmingham, AL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology