Mountain Brook, AL vs Vestavia Hills, AL
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | Mountain BrookMountain Brook, AL | Vestavia HillsVestavia Hills, AL | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Great | Good | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Very Safe | Very Safe | Same |
| Education | Same | ||
| 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 2.7% and 9.0%, Mountain Brook, AL and Vestavia Hills, AL show a 6.3-point gap in poverty rate under 2023 Census figures, with Mountain Brook in the 4th percentile and Vestavia Hills in the 36th percentile. Population also diverges sharply: Vestavia Hills counts 38,704 residents versus Mountain Brook’s 22,160, making Vestavia Hills 75% larger and placing it in the 66th percentile compared to the 49th percentile. The cost of living index stands at 201 for Mountain Brook versus 145 for Vestavia Hills, a 39% difference, with the former in the 91st percentile and the latter in the 76th percentile.
Commute times and household size add further contrast. Average commute runs 17.7 minutes in Mountain Brook and 19.8 minutes in Vestavia Hills, a 2-minute gap, putting Mountain Brook in the 12th percentile and Vestavia Hills in the 26th percentile. Average household size is 2.7 in Mountain Brook versus 2.5 in Vestavia Hills, a 6% difference, with percentiles of 73rd and 59th, respectively. Comfortable income figures follow the cost pattern: for a family of 4, Mountain Brook requires $254,551 versus $141,227 in Vestavia Hills, an 80% gap, while for a single person the figures are $173,164 and $96,073, also 80% apart, with Mountain Brook in the 96th percentile for both.
Median home value reinforces the cost divide at $891,300 in Mountain Brook versus $494,500 in Vestavia Hills, an 80% difference. Unemployment is identical at 3.0% in both places, as is job growth at +1.2%. Violent crime per 100,000 people is 19 in Mountain Brook and 69 in Vestavia Hills, a 3.7× difference, while property crime runs 642 versus 562, with Mountain Brook 14% higher.
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 | Mountain Brook, AL | Vestavia Hills, AL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 20191st pctl | 14576th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Mountain Brook, AL 201; Vestavia Hills, AL 145; Mountain Brook is 39% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $891,30094th pctl | $494,50082nd pctl | Median home value: Mountain Brook, AL $891,300; Vestavia Hills, AL $494,500; Mountain Brook is 80% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,44467th pctl | $1,45567th pctl | About the same |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $191,12897th pctl | $129,17190th pctl | Median household income: Mountain Brook, AL $191,128; Vestavia Hills, AL $129,171; Mountain Brook is 48% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $173,16496th pctl | $96,07384th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Mountain Brook, AL $173,164; Vestavia Hills, AL $96,073; Mountain Brook is 80% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $254,55196th pctl | $141,22784th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Mountain Brook, AL $254,551; Vestavia Hills, AL $141,227; Mountain Brook is 80% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Affordable | Housing affordability: Mountain Brook, AL B-; Vestavia Hills, AL A-; Vestavia Hills is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Vestavia Hills needs about
$54,100
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 201 vs 145). 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 | Mountain Brook, AL | Vestavia Hills, 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 | $112,07497th pctl | $66,81291st pctl | Per-capita income: Mountain Brook, AL $112,074; Vestavia Hills, AL $66,812; Mountain Brook is 68% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 2.7%4th pctl | 9.0%36th pctl | Poverty rate: Mountain Brook, AL 2.7%; Vestavia Hills, AL 9.0%; Vestavia Hills is 6.3 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 17.7 min12th pctl | 19.8 min26th pctl | Average commute: Mountain Brook, AL 17.7 min; Vestavia Hills, AL 19.8 min; Vestavia Hills is 2 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 16.5%75th pctl | 15.6%71st pctl | About the same |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Strong | Strong | Economic opportunity: Mountain Brook, AL A; Vestavia Hills, AL B; Mountain Brook is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Mountain Brook, AL | Vestavia Hills, AL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 194th pctl | 6913th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Mountain Brook, AL 19; Vestavia Hills, AL 69; Vestavia Hills is 3.7 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 64216th pctl | 56213th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Mountain Brook, AL 642; Vestavia Hills, AL 562; Mountain Brook is 14% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Very Safe | Very Safe | About the same |
| 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 | Mountain Brook, AL | Vestavia Hills, 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 | Mountain Brook, AL | Vestavia Hills, AL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 860 mi84th pctl | 862 mi84th pctl | About the same |
| Target proximity | Weak | Weak | About the same |
| To borderDistance to international border | 700 mi91st pctl | 702 mi91st pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 206 mi44th pctl | 204 mi44th pctl | About the same |
| StrategicStrategic location | Exposed | Exposed | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Mountain Brook, AL | Vestavia Hills, AL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,16048th pctl | 38,70466th pctl | Population: Mountain Brook, AL 22,160; Vestavia Hills, AL 38,704; Vestavia Hills is 75% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 1,71553rd pctl | 1,92559th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Mountain Brook, AL 1,715; Vestavia Hills, AL 1,925; Vestavia Hills is 12% higher. |
| Median age | 41.574th pctl | 4276th pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 88.4%100th pctl | 62.2%89th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Mountain Brook, AL 88.4%; Vestavia Hills, AL 62.2%; Mountain Brook is 26.2 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.773rd pctl | 2.558th pctl | Average household size: Mountain Brook, AL 2.7; Vestavia Hills, AL 2.5; Mountain Brook is 6% larger. |
More about Mountain Brook's residents · Vestavia Hills'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 | Mountain BrookMountain Brook, AL | Vestavia HillsVestavia Hills, AL |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | R+20 | R+20 |
Full politics data: Mountain Brook · Vestavia Hills
Moving between Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills
- Median rent: $1,444 in Mountain Brook, $1,455 in Vestavia Hills
- Median home value: $891,300 in Mountain Brook, $494,500 in Vestavia Hills
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 201 in Mountain Brook, 145 in Vestavia Hills
- Median household income: $191,128 in Mountain Brook, $129,171 in Vestavia Hills
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $254,551 in Mountain Brook, $141,227 in Vestavia Hills
- Unemployment: 3.0% in Mountain Brook, 3.0% in Vestavia Hills
- Average commute: 17.7 min in Mountain Brook, 19.8 min in Vestavia Hills
- Violent crime per 100k: 19 in Mountain Brook, 69 in Vestavia Hills
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Compare a different pair
More places like Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills
- 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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