Both Anaheim and Birmingham have many job markets and access to several outdoor activities. But Birmingham is best for people who look for a low cost of living expenses.
Anaheim, California, is home to Disneyland, one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions. The city’s economy is solidly well-connected to other towns and cities. Also, the city is a refuge for working professionals, singles, and families, though you’ll have to pay a higher price for your living expenditures.
Meanwhile, Birmingham, Alabama, grew up around the iron and steel industries and is well-known for participating in the civil rights struggle. The Magic City, as Alabama’s cultural capital, is home to art museums, theaters, music venues, and a slew of festivals and events.
Both cities have lots to offer, and it’s hard to go wrong with either one. But it’s easy to identify the most excellent neighborhood for you with reliable information discussed in this comparison!
List of Contents
What Are the Pros and Cons of Anaheim vs. Birmingham?
There are mountains and dunes in Anaheim that you can take advantage of while visiting Disneyland Resort. However, its high costs and the congested traffic may put you off. Even though Birmingham’s festivals, museums, and music scenes are excellent, you must still reexamine the city’s high sales tax and public transit system.
Living in Anaheim
Pros
- Strong job market
- Access to the Disneyland Resort
- The city’s treasures
- Mountain ranges and dunes
With an unemployment rate of 4.3% in most recent data, the county had a far better job market than the rest of California.
Agriculture, manufacturing, oil and gas, mining, and trade are just a few examples of the many sectors that exist in the city. If you’re moving to this place, you can rest confident since you’ll have no trouble finding work here.
Anaheim is the location of the California Disneyland Resort, more often known as Disneyland.
The Disneyland Resort was Walt Disney’s first theme park destination, and it was open to the public while he was still around. The world’s second-busiest theme park, Disneyland, attracts an estimated 18 million visitors each year, boosting tourism in the surrounding region.
It also has a sibling park, Disney California Adventure Park, which includes attractions such as Soarin’ Around the World, Grizzly River Run, and the Sailing Ship Columbia. Through these attractions, your family will indeed have fun in this city.
Even if you don’t plan on visiting Disneyland in Anaheim, the city itself is easily accessible so that you can have the ideal city-hopping experience. You can also find an interaction with history and architecture in the Anaheim Packing District.
Anaheim’s Center Street Promenade, which showcases the finest of the city’s local shops, is also a great place to eat and shop. During a home baseball game, Angel Stadium, the Los Angeles Angels’ stadium in the American League West, erupts with the yelps of tens of thousands of fans.
The Pacific Ocean is never far away for those who live in Anaheim. Anaheim is about 20 minutes away from the ocean. One of the closest coastal villages, Huntington Beach, has 3.5 miles of pristine coastline to explore.
Mountain ranges are also nearby. In addition, you can see the stunning views of Pinyon-forested slopes and cascading waterfalls in the Santa Ana Mountains to the city’s east. If you love outdoor activities, you’ll have an excellent hike going here.
Cons
- Heavy traffic
- Expensive for necessities
It’s reasonable to anticipate heavy traffic in Anaheim due to the city’s annual average visitation of roughly 18 million tourists. Every day, the town welcomes some 63,000 vacationers, accommodated by the city’s congested roadways and streets.
It is estimated that each year, drivers in Anaheim waste 119 hours, 35 liters of fuel, and $2400 due to the city’s excessive traffic.
Living in Anaheim necessitates paying a premium for necessities. There is a 52.2 % markup over the national average in the city’s total cost of living. In part, this is because of the high cost of housing, which averages $500,000.
At almost $800,000 on average, Anaheim Hills is one of the priciest communities in Anaheim. However, this price may vary based on the kind of lodging you choose.
Living in Birmingham
Pros
- Thriving job market
- Excellent museum
- Countless festivals
- Music scene
The career options are one of the most pleasing aspects of migrating to Birmingham. Birmingham has been named one of the top cities in the United States for job seekers, with a 2.7 % unemployment rate (lower than Anaheim).
Considering Birmingham’s cost of living is 18% cheaper than the national average, it’s easy to understand why young professionals and families flock to this city. Jobs are available in various industries in Alabama, including manufacturing, healthcare, and government.
If you look for the best companies to work for in Birmingham, Baptist Health System Inc., Drummond Company Inc., Alabama Power Company, and American Cast Iron Pipe Company are all excellent businesses.
Birmingham’s more than 20 cultural sites will appeal to art, culture, and history enthusiasts. The Birmingham Museum of Art is perhaps the most fantastic you can visit, and it includes everything from classic paintings to contemporary photography and modern artworks.
The Barber Antique Motorsports Museum has vintage motorbikes and classic roadsters from across the globe, as well as a racetrack where you can attend yearly events like the Barber Vintage Festival.
Suppose you’re looking for family-friendly activities in Birmingham. In that case, you can spend the day at the McWane Science Center, where you can learn about science via hands-on exhibits or watch a movie in the IMAX Dome.
Also, don’t miss the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, where you can view over 6,000 sports memorabilia items and learn about notable athletes like Hank Aaron and Jesse Owens.
Birmingham’s festivals are a must-see for anybody who enjoys new experiences. The first festival you can discover is the Sidewalk Film Festival, an annual event including speakers, screenings, and parties for independent filmmakers.
The Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival is a great place to get a bite to eat while listening to some of the top jazz performers in the nation. Also, at the Magic City Art Connection, you can see the work of approximately 200 artists.
If you didn’t find something that matches your festival personality, you would have more Birmingham festival ideas when you move here.
If you’re relocating to Birmingham, you’d better be prepared to listen to some incredible music.
Take in a gig at Iron City Bham, a no-frills venue that hosts Whitey Bad Religion, Morgan, and Andy Grammer, among others.
If you want to see a performance throughout the week, head to Saturn, a quaint live music venue where you can see Band of Skulls, Jenny Lewis, and Iron & Wine, as well as entertaining events like vintage game night.
And if there’s one place you must see, it’s the Alabama Theatre, a tiny old-school venue that has hosted a range of musical artists since the 1920s.
Birmingham offers it all, no matter what style of music you have.
Cons
- Weak public transit system
- High sales tax
Birmingham’s public transit system is weak and unreliable compared to its population. Less than 3% of the population uses public transportation, which is relatively low. Also, the city has a poor walkability rating.
So if you move here, prepare yourself for buying or owning a car.
Birmingham has a relatively high sales tax for a city with a low cost of living. It is much higher than the national average of 7.25 %. It means you’ll spend approximately 3% extra in taxes on items like food, clothes, and other necessities. It may not seem high at first, but that additional 3% can build up over time.
Anaheim or Birmingham – Which Is Less Expensive?
According to the cost of living index, Birmingham is 50.8 % less expensive than Anaheim on average. The most significant component in the cost of living difference is the median home cost. The median home cost is 89% lower in Birmingham.
The table below presents the cost-of-living indices written in percentage:
| Living expenses | Anaheim | Birmingham |
| Housing | 257.1% | 28.3% |
| Food & Groceries | 102.5% | 93.3% |
| Health | 93.4% | 122% |
| Utilities | 97.4% | 101% |
| Transportation | 118% | 88.4% |
Data is 100 = US National Average
> 100 means more expensive than the national average
< 100 means cheaper than the national average
Housing Cost
Birmingham’s cost of housing is 89.0% less expensive than in Anaheim. Birmingham’s median home cost is only $79,000, whereas Anaheim has $762,700.
Utility Cost
Birmingham’s cost of utilities is 3.7% higher than in Anaheim. Essential services for an 85-square-foot apartment in Birmingham cost $177.06 per month compared to $153.19 per month in Anaheim for the same unit.
Food and Groceries Cost
The cost of food and groceries in Birmingham is 9.0% less expensive than in Anaheim. For example, the price of white rice is only $3.98 per kilo in Birmingham, whereas Anaheim has $6.06.
Transportation Cost
Birmingham’s transportation cost is 25.1% less expensive than in Anaheim. For example, if you ride for a taxi in Birmingham, that will cost you only $1.38 standard tariff for a 1-km trip, but $1.71 in Anaheim.
Healthcare Cost
Birmingham’s healthcare cost is 5.4% higher than in Anaheim. The health index considers local insurance premium prices, traditional surgery, and medical procedures in retirement.
Is Anaheim Bigger Than Birmingham?
Based on the most recent data on city population, Anaheim has 40.56% more residents than Birmingham. But in terms of total area, Birmingham is 65.77% bigger than Anaheim.
Anaheim, located in Orange County, is part of the larger Los Angeles metropolitan region. With 346,824 residents in 2020, it is the most populous town in Orange County, 10th in the state, and the 56th in the United States. Anaheim has a population density of 6,943 persons per square mile, with a total area of 51 square miles.
Conversely, Birmingham is a city in the Alabama counties of Jefferson and Shelby and has a population density of 1,411 persons per square mile, with 149 square miles. It is the 116th most significant city in the United States and the 2nd in Alabama after Huntsville, with 206,151 people in 2020.
Is Anaheim Safer Than Birmingham?
With 100 to be the safest, Anaheim has a crime index of 14, whereas Birmingham has reported 1. Birmingham has >13,000 crimes reported in a typical year, higher than >10,000 of Anaheim. Thus, Anaheim is safer than Birmingham.
Birmingham has 13,345 yearly crimes, 3,334 are violent offenses. However, the city has only reported 90 crimes per square mile, lower than Anaheim. Regarding violent crime probability, you have 1 in 60 of becoming a victim of such offenses when you relocate here.
Meanwhile, there are only 10,122 crimes committed in Anaheim each year, where 1,242 are violent offenses. If you live here, your chance of becoming a rape, murder, robbery, or assault victim is only 1 in 279. However, it has 199 crimes per square mile, 54.77% higher than Birmingham.
Is Anaheim Colder Than Birmingham?
Anaheim’s typical temperature ranges from 46°F to 85°F, while Birmingham has year-round temperatures of 36°F to 90°F. It means that Birmingham is colder than Anaheim.
It’s always partially overcast in Birmingham, which has a humid subtropical climate throughout the year with long, hot summers and short, frigid winters. For most of the year, the average temperature ranges from 35°F to 90°F, with temperatures seldom falling below 21°F or rising over 97 °F.
The chilly season lasts from November 29 to February 24, with an average daily maximum temperature below 61°F. Birmingham has the coldest temperatures in January, with lows of 36°F and highs of 54°F on average.
Meanwhile, arid summers in Anaheim are followed by cold and foggy winters that last for months at a time. The average annual temperature in this city ranges from 46°F to 85°F, with lows of 39°F and highs of 94°F being very unusual.
From November 26 to March 23, the chilly season lasts 3.9 months, with daily high temperatures averaging below 70°F. With an average low of 46°F and a high of 68°F, December is the coldest month in Anaheim.
Is Anaheim Better Than Birmingham?
Anaheim has a livability index of 62, while Birmingham received an average score of 65. With 100 to be exceptional, both cities got a “below average” remark. However, the livability reports for each are pretty varied.
Birmingham ranks 22,894th in the United States and 370th in Alabama for its overall quality of life. The city’s cost of living (A), amenities (A+), and weather (B) all rate well in the livability category. However, education (F), crime (F), housing (F), and employment (F) all received dismal grades.
Birmingham has a reasonable cost of living compared to other southern cities, and the town boasts a flourishing creative sector and excellent outdoors for good weather.
Meanwhile, Anaheim ranks in the 47th percentile of all American cities regarding the quality of life. Anaheim scored well in all livability areas, including weather (A+). However, you should be aware of at least one category in Anaheim: cost of living (F), housing (D), and education (F).
Anaheim people have an excellent quality of life that is less stressful than some nearby more prominent cities. Aside from the weather, being near Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and the Pacific Ocean is an excellent aspect of living in Anaheim.
Anyone relocating to Anaheim or Birmingham can expect a great experience. Both cities have a plethora of beautiful areas to call home, so take your time and make an informed decision!
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