Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 14 of 23 categories
Anaheim
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
Montgomery
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
199,819
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,372 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 60°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Higher rents — median is $1,958/mo
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $572k less ($141,900 vs $713,600)
Rent averages $932/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,958)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Anaheim by $34,372/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Median Income
$34,372
$88,538 vs $54,166/yr
Anaheim
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$572k less
$141,900 vs $713,600
Montgomery
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 60.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 199,819 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 14 of 23 categories. Anaheim wins 9 and Montgomery wins 14. 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 Anaheim to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $141,900 median home), income ($88,538 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Montgomery, AL are about 1,819 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.