Greensboro-High Point receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Birmingham
Greensboro-High Point
Opportunity
58 · Top 46%
vs52 · Bottom 42%
Growth
56 · Top 41%
vs60 · Top 33%
Climate
74 · Top 25%
vs77 · Top 12%
Physical resilience
50 · Bottom 40%
vs61 · Top 47%
Housing affordability
92 · Top 46%
vs90 · Bottom 46%
Access
97 · Top 20%
vs97 · Top 20%
Economic stability
51 · Bottom 41%
vs59 · Top 50%
Measured values
| Metric | Birmingham | Greensboro-High Point | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,184,613 | 786,419 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $71,498 | $65,565 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $40,359 | $37,114 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 224/sq mi | 394/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $240,200 | $231,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,172 | $1,093 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 70.8% | 63.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.6% | -1.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.7% | 32.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | 14.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 4,727 | 4,081 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.0 | 5.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 32.4% | 6.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 35°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 56.6" | 44.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 8 mi | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 29.0 min | 24.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.9 | 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
Birmingham
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Greensboro-High Point
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Birmingham
68
Your Score
67
Area Score
Greensboro-High Point
71
Your Score
68
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Birmingham, AL Metro Area · Greensboro-High Point, NC Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology