Signals
Birmingham
Memphis
Opportunity
35 · Bottom 11%
vs26 · Bottom 4%
Climate
74 · Top 32%
vs68 · Bottom 40%
Physical resilience
59 · Top 49%
vs49 · Bottom 41%
Housing affordability
70 · Bottom 34%
vs75 · Bottom 42%
Access
97 · Top 29%
vs98 · Top 19%
Economic stability
29 · Bottom 6%
vs39 · Bottom 16%
Measured values
| Metric | Birmingham | Memphis | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 198,173 | 618,980 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $46,051 | $51,736 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,216 | $33,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,347/sq mi | 2,136/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $158,800 | $169,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,107 | $1,181 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 45.5% | 44.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 5.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -1.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.1% | 28.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 24.7% | 23.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 91°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 35°F | 33°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 56.6" | 54.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 4 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 22.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.6 | 34.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 56 | 220 | 2024-25 school 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.
Memphis
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Birmingham
58
Your Score
56
Area Score
Memphis
51
Your Score
—
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Birmingham, AL · Memphis, TN · How this is calculated: methodology