Performance
Score Breakdown
Homewood
Prattville
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Prattville is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
28% higher compared to Homewood.
Housing costs are a major driver: Homewood's average rent is
17% higher than Prattville's.
| Metric | Homewood | Prattville | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,400 | $1,200 | +17% |
| Groceries | $440 | $450 | -2% |
| Utilities | $275 | $180 | +53% |
| Transport | $80 | $120 | -33% |
| Healthcare | $625 | $250 | +150% |
| Monthly Total | $2,820 | $2,200 | +28% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 90 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Homewood offers 61% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Homewood delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Homewood is estimated at
$55,000 vs $55,000 in Prattville.
| Metric | Homewood | Prattville |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $65,695 | $40,909 |
| Salary Needed | $55,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 71,408 idx | 45,454 idx |
| Household Income | $94,485 | $81,337 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Homewood | Prattville |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 72.00% | 71.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Homewood has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,500 minutes (58 hours) per year compared to Prattville.
Homewood scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Homewood leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Homewood | Prattville |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 17 min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | 30.0/10 | 10.0/10 |
| Walkability | 65.0/10 | 18.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 70.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Prattville is the larger city
— approximately 0.7x the population of Homewood.
From a growth perspective, Homewood is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Homewood has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Homewood | Prattville |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 28,830 | 41,046 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.80% | 1.44% |
| Median Age | 29.0 | 36.9 |
| Unemployment | 2.10% | 3.00% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Homewood
Advantages
Homewood offers a high quality of life with a strong community feel and excellent local amenities.
The city boasts a low unemployment rate of 2.1% as of April 2026, indicating a robust job market.
Homewood provides convenient access to major employment centers and top-tier healthcare facilities in downtown Birmingham.
The overall cost of living is lower than the national average, despite higher housing costs compared to the broader metro area.
Homewood is noted for its walkability, allowing residents to access many local amenities on foot.
Drawbacks
Housing costs in Homewood are significantly higher than in other parts of the Birmingham metropolitan area.
The city exhibits high car dependency, with 82% of residents using personal vehicles for commuting.
Public transportation options are limited, with only 1% of residents relying on public transit.
Major traffic congestion can be an issue on key routes like US-280, impacting commute times.
The median household income saw a 12.8% decline in 2024, despite a high average household income.
Prattville
Advantages
The cost of living in Prattville is below the national average, particularly for housing, making it an affordable place to live.
Prattville boasts a high homeownership rate of 67.4% as of 2024, exceeding the national average.
The city has a strong sense of community and is considered family-friendly, with a higher percentage of households with children.
The average commute time of 23.9 minutes is shorter than the national average, improving daily convenience for workers.
Prattville's violent crime rate of 226.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024 is below the national average.
Drawbacks
Prattville is a car-dependent city with a low walkability score of 18 and limited public transportation options.
The city experienced a decline in employment by -2.48% from 2023 to 2024, indicating challenges in job growth.
Despite a lower violent crime rate, the overall crime rate in Prattville is considered higher than the national average when compared to communities of similar size.
Amenities in Prattville received a low grade (D) in one livability assessment, suggesting fewer entertainment and dining options compared to larger cities.
Summers in Prattville can be hot and uncomfortably humid, with average humidity levels around 71-73%.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Homewood
#5Alabama, USA
78.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,400
Avg Salary
$65,695
Cost Index
92
Commute
17 min
Transit Score
30.0/10
Walkability
65.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.80%
Unemployment
2.10%
Livability
82
Business
75
Prattville
#50Alabama, USA
70.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,200
Avg Salary
$40,909
Cost Index
90
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
10.0/10
Walkability
18.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.44%
Unemployment
3.00%
Livability
75
Business
60
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