Birmingham receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Baton Rouge
Birmingham
Opportunity
63 · Top 35%
vs58 · Top 46%
Growth
62 · Top 31%
vs61 · Top 32%
Climate
77 · Top 13%
vs74 · Top 24%
Physical resilience
39 · Bottom 28%
vs50 · Bottom 43%
Housing affordability
91 · Bottom 40%
vs92 · Bottom 43%
Access
68 · Bottom 34%
vs97 · Top 12%
Economic stability
42 · Bottom 37%
vs51 · Top 49%
Measured values
| Metric | Baton Rouge | Birmingham | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 875,313 | 1,184,613 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $69,599 | $71,498 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,693 | $40,359 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 200/sq mi | 224/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $241,100 | $240,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,135 | $1,172 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.1% | 70.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.9% | -1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.4% | 33.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.6% | 13.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 4,060 | 4,727 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.6 | 4.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -10.3% | 32.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 42°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 61.9" | 56.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 56 mi | 8 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 29.3 min | 29.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.2 | 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
Baton Rouge
Elevated or high exposure: 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.
Baton Rouge
63
Your Score
63
Area Score
Birmingham
69
Your Score
66
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Baton Rouge, LA Metro Area · Birmingham, AL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology