Birmingham or Grand Rapids: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Birmingham wins on more indicators: 6 of 11 against 4.
- Money: Birmingham 4:0
- Climate and risks: Grand Rapids 2:4
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Birmingham
Indicator
Grand Rapids
Money
Better: Birmingham (4 : 0)Per capita income
higher is better
✓$69,324
20242% higher
✗$67,643
20242% lower
Typical rent
lower is better
✓$1,404
2026-09-3013% lower
✗$1,614
2026-09-3015% higher
Typical home value
lower is better
✓$260,710
2026-09-3027% lower
✗$355,636
2026-09-3036% higher
Price level
lower is better
✓91.6 100 = US average
20244% lower
✗95.5 100 = US average
20244% higher
Climate and risks
Better: Grand Rapids (2 : 4)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✗57 AQI
202412% higher
✓51 AQI
202411% lower
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✗6 days per year
2024500% higher
✓1 days per year
202483% lower
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✗120 days per year
2016-2025309% higher
✓29 days per year
2016-202576% lower
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
lower is better
✓1 days per year
2016-202597% lower
✗24 days per year
2016-20252913% higher
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
lower is better
✓0.0 days per year
2016-2025
✗1.3 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1 days per year
2016-2025
45 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,179 °C·days per year
2016-2025
3,519 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,383 °C·days per year
2016-2025
390 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
96 days per year
2016-2025
117 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
0 days per year
2016-2025
22 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,466 mm per year
2016-2025
1,053 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.9 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.0 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
14.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
15.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
67 %
2021-2025
72 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✗78 days per year
2021-2025324% higher
✓18 days per year
2021-202576% lower
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
327 km
2006-2025
835 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
tie
0.00 per year
2006-2025
0.00 per year
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,192,583 people
2024
1,178,826 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Birmingham, Grand Rapids.