Louisville/Jefferson County and Birmingham receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Louisville/Jefferson County | Birmingham | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,372,558 | 1,184,613 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $73,863 | $71,498 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,207 | $40,359 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 347/sq mi | 224/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $248,700 | $240,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,116 | $1,172 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.9% | 70.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.4% | -1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.9% | 33.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | 13.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 5,605 | 4,727 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.1 | 4.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -7.0% | 32.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 88°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 27°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 48.1" | 56.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 4 mi | 8 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 29.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.4 | 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
Louisville/Jefferson County
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Birmingham
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Metro Area · Birmingham, AL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology