Birmingham, MO vs Union Star, MO

Union Star is moderately more affordable than Birmingham, with a 7.1% lower cost of living index. Birmingham scores 70 compared to 66 for Union Star, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Birmingham can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Birmingham is $893/month compared to $925/month in Union Star — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Birmingham has cheaper rent, Union Star actually has lower median home values ($84,500 vs $129,200).

Median household income in Birmingham is $61,250 compared to $57,907 in Union Star (+5.8%). The higher salaries in Birmingham partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Birmingham spend roughly 17.5% of their income on rent, less than the 19.2% in Union Star.