Birmingham, AL vs Mountain Brook, AL
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | BirminghamBirmingham, AL | Mountain BrookMountain Brook, AL | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Soft | Great | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | Very Safe | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Great | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Exposed | Exposed | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 25.2% for Birmingham, AL and 2.7% for Mountain Brook, AL, the poverty rate gap is the widest among the 2023 Census figures, with Birmingham in the 92nd percentile and Mountain Brook in the 4th. Median household income in Mountain Brook is $191,128, placing it in the 97th percentile, while Birmingham’s $44,376 sits in the 6th percentile, a 4.3× difference. The comfortable income for a single person in Mountain Brook is $173,164 (96th percentile), compared to Birmingham’s $27,812 (11th percentile), and for a family of four, Mountain Brook requires $254,551 (96th percentile) versus Birmingham’s $40,884 (11th percentile), both 6.2× higher in Mountain Brook. Median home values reflect a similar chasm: Mountain Brook’s $891,300 (94th percentile) is 6.4× Birmingham’s $138,600 (10th percentile). Violent crime per 100,000 people in Birmingham is 1,234 (99th percentile), while Mountain Brook reports 19 (4th percentile), a difference of 1,215 higher in Birmingham. Property crime per 100,000 people follows suit at 4,430 (98th percentile) in Birmingham versus 642 (16th percentile) in Mountain Brook, a 6.9× higher rate in Birmingham. Both places share identical figures for unemployment at 3.0% (21st percentile), job growth at +1.2% (55th percentile), traffic deaths per 100,000 at 26 (71st percentile), air quality index at 57 (95th percentile), and healthcare access scores of 100/100 (90th percentile). Per-capita income in Mountain Brook is $112,074 (97th percentile), 3.5× Birmingham’s $31,616 (27th percentile). The average commute in Birmingham is 21.5 minutes (36th percentile), 4 minutes longer than Mountain Brook’s 17.7 minutes (12th percentile). Mountain Brook’s population density of 1,715 per square mile (53rd percentile) is 26% higher than Birmingham’s 1,356 (40th percentile), though Birmingham’s population of 199,322 (95th percentile) is 9.0× larger.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Mountain Brook, AL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 7422nd pctl | 20191st pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Birmingham, AL 74; Mountain Brook, AL 201; Mountain Brook is 2.7 times higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $138,60010th pctl | $891,30094th pctl | Median home value: Birmingham, AL $138,600; Mountain Brook, AL $891,300; Mountain Brook is 6.4 times higher. |
| Median rent | $1,04736th pctl | $1,44467th pctl | Median rent: Birmingham, AL $1,047; Mountain Brook, AL $1,444; Mountain Brook is 38% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $44,3766th pctl | $191,12897th pctl | Median household income: Birmingham, AL $44,376; Mountain Brook, AL $191,128; Mountain Brook is 4.3 times higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $27,81211th pctl | $173,16496th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Birmingham, AL $27,812; Mountain Brook, AL $173,164; Mountain Brook is 6.2 times higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $40,88411th pctl | $254,55196th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Birmingham, AL $40,884; Mountain Brook, AL $254,551; Mountain Brook is 6.2 times higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Stretched | Housing affordability: Birmingham, AL A+; Mountain Brook, AL B-; Birmingham is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Mountain Brook needs about
$203,700
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 74 vs 201). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Mountain Brook, AL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.0%21st pctl | 3.0%21st pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.2%55th pctl | +1.2%55th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $31,61627th pctl | $112,07497th pctl | Per-capita income: Birmingham, AL $31,616; Mountain Brook, AL $112,074; Mountain Brook is 3.5 times higher. |
| Poverty rate | 25.2%92nd pctl | 2.7%4th pctl | Poverty rate: Birmingham, AL 25.2%; Mountain Brook, AL 2.7%; Birmingham is 22.5 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 21.5 min36th pctl | 17.7 min12th pctl | Average commute: Birmingham, AL 21.5 min; Mountain Brook, AL 17.7 min; Birmingham is 4 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 8.5%37th pctl | 16.5%75th pctl | Work from home: Birmingham, AL 8.5%; Mountain Brook, AL 16.5%; Mountain Brook is 8.0 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Weak | Strong | Economic opportunity: Birmingham, AL D; Mountain Brook, AL A; Mountain Brook is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Mountain Brook, AL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 1,23499th pctl | 194th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Birmingham, AL 1,234; Mountain Brook, AL 19; Birmingham is 1,215 higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 4,43098th pctl | 64216th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Birmingham, AL 4,430; Mountain Brook, AL 642; Birmingham is 6.9 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Very Safe | Crime & safety: Birmingham, AL F; Mountain Brook, AL A+; Mountain Brook is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Mountain Brook, AL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Humid | Humid | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Alabama, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Alabama →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Mountain Brook, AL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 861 mi84th pctl | 860 mi84th pctl | About the same |
| Target proximity | Poor | Weak | Target proximity: Birmingham, AL D-; Mountain Brook, AL C-; Mountain Brook is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 699 mi90th pctl | 700 mi91st pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 208 mi44th pctl | 206 mi44th pctl | About the same |
| StrategicStrategic location | Exposed | Exposed | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Mountain Brook, AL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 199,32295th pctl | 22,16048th pctl | Population: Birmingham, AL 199,322; Mountain Brook, AL 22,160; Birmingham is 9.0 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 1,35640th pctl | 1,71553rd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Birmingham, AL 1,356; Mountain Brook, AL 1,715; Mountain Brook is 26% higher. |
| Median age | 35.932nd pctl | 41.574th pctl | Median age: Birmingham, AL 35.9; Mountain Brook, AL 41.5; Mountain Brook is 5.6 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.7%46th pctl | 88.4%100th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Birmingham, AL 30.7%; Mountain Brook, AL 88.4%; Mountain Brook is 57.7 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.113th pctl | 2.773rd pctl | Average household size: Birmingham, AL 2.1; Mountain Brook, AL 2.7; Mountain Brook is 24% larger. |
More about Birmingham's residents · Mountain Brook's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | BirminghamBirmingham, AL | Mountain BrookMountain Brook, AL |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+13 | R+20 |
Full politics data: Birmingham · Mountain Brook
Moving between Birmingham and Mountain Brook
- Median rent: $1,047 in Birmingham, $1,444 in Mountain Brook
- Median home value: $138,600 in Birmingham, $891,300 in Mountain Brook
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 74 in Birmingham, 201 in Mountain Brook
- Median household income: $44,376 in Birmingham, $191,128 in Mountain Brook
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $40,884 in Birmingham, $254,551 in Mountain Brook
- Unemployment: 3.0% in Birmingham, 3.0% in Mountain Brook
- Average commute: 21.5 min in Birmingham, 17.7 min in Mountain Brook
- Violent crime per 100k: 1,234 in Birmingham, 19 in Mountain Brook
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More places like Birmingham and Mountain Brook
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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