Indianapolis vas Birmingham Alabama (crime rates, schools, college)

[azabu10]

Could anyone on the forum who has lived in both places or visited them please tell me the pros and cons of the cities? I am moving to Indy in October and would like to know how you guys compare the two cities. Thanks!

[Future Trooper]

Originally Posted by azabu10

Could anyone on the forum who has lived in both places or visited them please tell me the pros and cons of the cities? I am moving to Indy in October and would like to know how you guys compare the two cities. Thanks!

I've visited Birmingham before but it was a few years ago.

Indianapolis has higher payers paying jobs, more recreational oppurtunities, more diversity, better educational oppurtunities and more family and sports related activities but that is more than likely related to the fact that Indianapolis has a population almost 4 times that of Birmingham.

The crime rates for Birmingham and Indianapolis I believe are around the same for the sizes of both cities.

Birmingham doesn't have a whole lot of recreational oppurtunities and is definetly less diverse. I didnt feel like Birmingham put more into education like Indianapolis does. Birmingham has less sports related activities but around an equal amount of family activities.

[Toxic Toast]

College football is less popular here

[azabu10]

I'm not so into college football. That's good news. Wherever the games are on, the whole city is empty. I work in the food service and businesses here are very much affected by the games.

I'm a little concerned that if I accept an offer to work in the restaurant in Indy, the same thing might happen to me. I just cannot bear slow business. It literally kills me.

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by azabu10

I'm not so into college football. That's good news. Wherever the games are on, the whole city is empty. I work in the food service and businesses here are very much affected by the games.

I'm a little concerned that if I accept an offer to work in the restaurant in Indy, the same thing might happen to me. I just cannot bear slow business. It literally kills me.

If the restaurant is downtown, it will probably be busy more often than not. If the restaurant is good, it will probably be busy more often than not. People in Indy love their eat out food.

[Michelle Morris]

I have lived just outside Birmingham. I had to leave before my children got to school age, there was NO way I was going to allow them to go to school there. Maybe in the city limits, the schools are better, but not in the outskirts.

[azabu10]

Mikijayne, are you from Indy or Birmingham?

[Michelle Morris]

I grew up in Northwest Indiana, but noved around a bit. Now I am back in Indy after living in Alabama, Virginia, and Missouri. Of course, since I am from IN, I may be biased towards it

[azabu10]

I don't think you are biased. I have been feeling exactly the same way as you do. Plus I'm not from Birmingham. Now I'm so ready to leave Birmingham.

Alabamians are most often seen as very conservative. Would you say Hoosiers are as conservative as Alabamians. Other posts on Indy say that people in Indy are nice but nice on the surface. Do you think so? I like the pace of Birmingham but I have issues getting along with people in Birmingam. To me alabamians seem too closed minded.

I would appreciate your honest opinions.

[krock1dk]

They dont compare in the least. Brimingham is in the south. Indy is in the Midwest. Biurmingham is no more than one-third the size of Indy. And Indy is the 13th largest (just the city) in the country. Indy has pro psdorts. Birmingham doesnt. Birmingham has among the most crime rates per-capita in the entire country. Indy isnt even remotely close--not even in the midwest. So whoever said the crime rates are similar couldnt be more wrong. And thats just a few comparisons.

But Indianapolis is the better place, hands down! And certainly superior as far as raising a family is concerned.