Birmingham, MI vs Detroit, MI
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Oct 2026
Report card
| Category | BirminghamBirmingham, MI | DetroitDetroit, MI | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Distressed | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Very Safe | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Good | |
| Sovereignty | High Autonomy | High Autonomy | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At $104,412 per capita, Birmingham, MI and Detroit, MI sit at opposite ends of the income spectrum in 2023 Census figures, with Birmingham in the 96th percentile and Detroit in the 5th percentile. Median household income tells a similar story: $153,125 in Birmingham versus $39,575 in Detroit, a 3.9× higher figure for the smaller city. Comfortable income for a single person runs $138,465 in Birmingham against $26,233 in Detroit, while a family of 4 would need $203,544 in Birmingham compared to $38,562 in Detroit, each 5.3× higher.
Housing costs amplify the gap. Median home value in Birmingham reaches $712,700, 9.3× higher than Detroit's $76,800, placing Birmingham in the 91st percentile and Detroit in the 1st percentile for this metric. Median rent follows at $1,891 versus $1,034, an 83% difference. Educational attainment diverges sharply too: 76.9% of adults in Birmingham hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while Detroit's rate is 17.6%, a 59.3-point gap. The cost of living index stands at 199 for Birmingham and 64 for Detroit, with Birmingham 3.1× higher.
Violent crime per 100,000 people is 31 in Birmingham and 1,649 in Detroit, a difference of 1,618, placing the two in the 6th and 100th percentiles respectively. Property crime rates run 820 in Birmingham versus 3,940 in Detroit, 4.8× higher. Unemployment is 3.6% in Birmingham and 5.5% in Detroit, with Detroit's rate 1.9 points higher. Population differs substantially, with Detroit at 636,644 residents compared to Birmingham's 21,612, though population density is nearly identical at 4,589 and 4,509 per square mile.
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, MI | Detroit, MI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 19991st pctl | 6411th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Birmingham, MI 199; Detroit, MI 64; Birmingham is 3.1 times higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $712,70091st pctl | $76,8001st pctl | Median home value: Birmingham, MI $712,700; Detroit, MI $76,800; Birmingham is 9.3 times higher. |
| Median rent | $1,89188th pctl | $1,03435th pctl | Median rent: Birmingham, MI $1,891; Detroit, MI $1,034; Birmingham is 83% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $153,12595th pctl | $39,5753rd pctl | Median household income: Birmingham, MI $153,125; Detroit, MI $39,575; Birmingham is 3.9 times higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $138,46594th pctl | $26,2339th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Birmingham, MI $138,465; Detroit, MI $26,233; Birmingham is 5.3 times higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $203,54494th pctl | $38,5629th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Birmingham, MI $203,544; Detroit, MI $38,562; Birmingham is 5.3 times higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Affordable | Housing affordability: Birmingham, MI B-; Detroit, MI A+; Detroit is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Detroit needs about
$24,100
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 199 vs 64). 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, MI | Detroit, MI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.6%48th pctl | 5.5%95th pctl | Unemployment: Birmingham, MI 3.6%; Detroit, MI 5.5%; Detroit is 1.9 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -0.3%15th pctl | +0.8%41st pctl | Job growth (YoY): Birmingham, MI -0.3%; Detroit, MI +0.8%; Detroit is 1.1 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $104,41296th pctl | $24,0295th pctl | Per-capita income: Birmingham, MI $104,412; Detroit, MI $24,029; Birmingham is 4.3 times higher. |
| Poverty rate | 4.9%12th pctl | 31.5%97th pctl | Poverty rate: Birmingham, MI 4.9%; Detroit, MI 31.5%; Detroit is 26.6 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 20.3 min29th pctl | 25.4 min63rd pctl | Average commute: Birmingham, MI 20.3 min; Detroit, MI 25.4 min; Detroit is 5 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 25.1%91st pctl | 10.1%47th pctl | Work from home: Birmingham, MI 25.1%; Detroit, MI 10.1%; Birmingham is 15.0 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Strong | Weak | Economic opportunity: Birmingham, MI B+; Detroit, MI F; Birmingham is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Stable | Job market: Birmingham, MI B+; Detroit, MI C+; Birmingham is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Birmingham, MI | Detroit, MI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 316th pctl | 1,649100th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Birmingham, MI 31; Detroit, MI 1,649; Detroit is 1,618 higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 82024th pctl | 3,94097th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Birmingham, MI 820; Detroit, MI 3,940; Detroit is 4.8 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Very Safe | Dangerous | Crime & safety: Birmingham, MI A+; Detroit, MI F; Birmingham is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Birmingham, MI A+; Detroit, MI B+; Birmingham is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Birmingham, MI | Detroit, MI | 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 | Dry | Comfortable | 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. | Healthcare access: Birmingham, MI A+; Detroit, MI A; Birmingham is graded higher. |
| Tap water | Clean | Fair | Tap water: Birmingham, MI A+; Detroit, MI B-; Birmingham is graded higher. |
| 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 and local food access aren't available for either place; walkability isn't available for Detroit, MI.
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 Michigan, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Michigan →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Birmingham, MI | Detroit, MI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 17 mi22nd pctl | 5 mi4th pctl | Nearest large city: Birmingham, MI 17 mi; Detroit, MI 5 mi; Birmingham is 3.7 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Fair | Weak | Target proximity: Birmingham, MI B+; Detroit, MI C+; Birmingham is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 50 mi4th pctl | 53 mi4th pctl | Distance to international border: Birmingham, MI 50 mi; Detroit, MI 53 mi; Detroit is 7% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 485 mi69th pctl | 478 mi68th pctl | About the same |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Birmingham, MI | Detroit, MI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,61248th pctl | 636,64499th pctl | Population: Birmingham, MI 21,612; Detroit, MI 636,644; Detroit is 615,032 larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 4,50990th pctl | 4,58990th pctl | About the same |
| Median age | 41.172nd pctl | 35.126th pctl | Median age: Birmingham, MI 41.1; Detroit, MI 35.1; Birmingham is 6.0 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 76.9%97th pctl | 17.6%12th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Birmingham, MI 76.9%; Detroit, MI 17.6%; Birmingham is 59.3 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.334th pctl | 2.554th pctl | Average household size: Birmingham, MI 2.3; Detroit, MI 2.5; Detroit is 6% larger. |
More about Birmingham's residents · Detroit'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, MI | DetroitDetroit, MI |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+9 | D+22 |
| 2024 presidential | D +16.0 pts | D +42.0 pts |
Full politics data: Birmingham · Detroit
Moving between Birmingham and Detroit
- Median rent: $1,891 in Birmingham, $1,034 in Detroit
- Median home value: $712,700 in Birmingham, $76,800 in Detroit
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 199 in Birmingham, 64 in Detroit
- Median household income: $153,125 in Birmingham, $39,575 in Detroit
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $203,544 in Birmingham, $38,562 in Detroit
- Unemployment: 3.6% in Birmingham, 5.5% in Detroit
- Average commute: 20.3 min in Birmingham, 25.4 min in Detroit
- Violent crime per 100k: 31 in Birmingham, 1,649 in Detroit
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More places like Birmingham and Detroit
- 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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