Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Montgomery
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
19% less violent crime than Montgomery
Households earn $17,570 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $109k less ($141,900 vs $251,300)
Rent averages $271/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,297)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Arlington by $17,570/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$17,570
$71,736 vs $54,166/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
19% lower
482.9 vs 594.6 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$109k less
$141,900 vs $251,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 199,819 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 53.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 23.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Montgomery wins 11. 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 Arlington to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $141,900 median home), income ($71,736 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Montgomery, AL are about 633 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.