Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 12 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Montgomery
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $59,013 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Montgomery
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $514k less ($141,900 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $957/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,983)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $59,013/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$59,013
$113,179 vs $54,166/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
63% lower
219.1 vs 594.6 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$514k less
$141,900 vs $655,700
Montgomery
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 12 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 11 and Montgomery wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $141,900 median home), income ($113,179 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Montgomery, AL are about 682 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.