Birmingham receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
San Antonio-New Braunfels
Birmingham
Opportunity
55 · Top 50%
vs58 · Top 46%
Growth
58 · Top 37%
vs56 · Top 41%
Climate
68 · Top 49%
vs74 · Top 25%
Physical resilience
49 · Bottom 38%
vs50 · Bottom 40%
Housing affordability
85 · Bottom 35%
vs92 · Top 46%
Access
94 · Top 28%
vs97 · Top 20%
Economic stability
67 · Top 39%
vs51 · Bottom 41%
Measured values
| Metric | San Antonio-New Braunfels | Birmingham | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,662,733 | 1,184,613 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $76,213 | $71,498 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,364 | $40,359 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 364/sq mi | 224/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $278,800 | $240,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,363 | $1,172 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.3% | 70.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.0% | -1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.3% | 33.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.4% | 13.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 9,880 | 4,727 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.7 | 4.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -25.8% | 32.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 96°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 41°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 11 mi | 8 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.6 min | 29.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.9 | 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
San Antonio-New Braunfels
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
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.
San Antonio-New Braunfels
68
Your Score
65
Area Score
Birmingham
68
Your Score
67
Area Score
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Full profiles: San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX Metro Area · Birmingham, AL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology