Augusta vs Birmingham
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $158,800 in Birmingham and $178,400 in Augusta.
- Households earn more in Augusta ($55,485 vs $46,051 median).
- Augusta has the warmer winter: January highs of 60°F vs 55°F.
- Augusta has more scorching days: 86 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 65.
- Augusta is growing faster: +0% since 2020 vs -2.3%.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Birmingham, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 201,999 | 195,893 |
| Growth since 2020 | +0% | -2.3% |
| People per square mile | 668 | 1,332 |
| Median age | 35.2 | 35.6 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25% | 31% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $55,485 | $46,051 |
| Median home value | $178,400 | $158,800 |
| Home value to income | 3.2× | 3.4× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,142 | $1,107 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 91.9 | 91.6 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 70.6 | 71.9 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $68,900 | $68,700 |
| Homeowners | 51% | 46% |
| Top state income tax | 5.19% | 5% |
| Combined sales tax | 7.56% | 9.46% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 21.1 | 20.8 |
| Work from home | 9% | 10% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 8.6% | 5.8% |
| Poverty rate | 20.1% | 24.7% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 60° / 35° | 55° / 35° |
| July high / low | 94° / 72° | 91° / 72° |
| Precipitation per year | 44 in | 57 in |
| Snowfall per year | 1 in | 1 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 86 | 65 |
| Nights below freezing | 51 | 47 |
| Comfortable months | 5 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 87.4 | 97.6 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 46% | 43% |
| Home prices, past year | +5% | +3.4% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +49.2% | +38.9% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Augusta: March to May and October to November. Birmingham: September to November.
Full monthly tables: Augusta weather by month and Birmingham weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $68,900 in Augusta and $68,700 in Birmingham. Moving from Augusta to Birmingham, you would need about $74,800 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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