City Comparison
Vestavia Hills vs Alabaster
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Alabaster scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Vestavia Hills
Alabaster
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
| Metric | Vestavia Hills | Alabaster | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,975 | $0 | 0% |
| Groceries | $425 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $150 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $120 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,850 | $0 | 0% |
| Cost Index | 124 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Vestavia Hills offers similar average salaries.
| Metric | Vestavia Hills | Alabaster |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $68,012 | $0 |
| Salary Needed | $62,960 | $0 |
| Household Income | $134,369 | $91,357 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Vestavia Hills | Alabaster |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 68.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Vestavia Hills has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
6,000 minutes (100 hours) per year compared to Alabaster.
Vestavia Hills scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Vestavia Hills leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Vestavia Hills | Alabaster |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 19 min | 31 min |
| Transit Score | 20.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 22.0/100 | 10.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Vestavia Hills is the larger city
— approximately 1.1x the population of Alabaster.
From a growth perspective, Vestavia Hills is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Alabaster has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Vestavia Hills | Alabaster |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 38,616 | 35,014 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.48% | 0.77% |
| Median Age | 41.7 | 39.6 |
| Unemployment | 2.60% | 2.50% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Vestavia Hills
Advantages
Vestavia Hills boasts a top-rated public school system, consistently ranked among the best in Alabama.
The city offers a high quality of life with abundant recreational parks, green spaces, and community events.
Vestavia Hills is considered a very safe community with a high safety score and low violent crime rates.
Residents benefit from a relatively short average commute time of 19.3 minutes.
The median household income of $134,369 in 2024 is significantly higher than the national average.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in Vestavia Hills is 24% higher than the national average, primarily due to high housing costs.
Housing costs, including both renting and buying, are approximately 90% higher than the national average.
The city is largely car-dependent with low walkability (score of 22) and minimal public transit options.
Employment in Vestavia Hills experienced a decline of -1.89% from 2023 to 2024.
Natural gas prices in Vestavia Hills averaged $23.38 per thousand cubic feet in November 2024, which was approximately 56.6% more than the U.S. average.
Alabaster
Advantages
Alabaster boasts exceptionally low violent crime rates, significantly below the national average, contributing to a strong sense of safety.
The overall cost of living in Alabaster is lower than the national average.
The median household income in Alabaster ($91,357 in 2024) is higher than both the state and national averages.
Alabaster's public schools are highly rated, making it an attractive place for families.
The city has a thriving and diverse economy with a 2.5% employment growth rate from 2023 to 2024.
Drawbacks
Alabaster has a low walkability score, meaning most errands require a car.
Public transportation is not readily available in Alabaster.
The average commute time of 30-32 minutes is longer than the national average.
A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance.
Limited nightlife and dining options compared to larger metropolitan areas.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Vestavia Hills
#78Alabama, USA
69.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,975
Avg Salary
$68,012
Cost Index
124
Commute
19 min
Transit Score
20.0/100
Walkability
22.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
2.48%
Unemployment
2.60%
Livability
88
Business
75
Alabaster
#8Alabama, USA
76.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
Commute
31 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
10.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.77%
Unemployment
2.50%
Livability
75
Business
0
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