Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Arvada leads 13 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Montgomery
Alabama
10
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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $51,848 more per year on average
52% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Montgomery
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $411k less ($141,900 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $680/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,706)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $51,848/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$51,848
$106,014 vs $54,166/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
52% lower
285.6 vs 594.6 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$411k less
$141,900 vs $553,000
Montgomery
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 53.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 13 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 13 and Montgomery wins 10. 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 Arvada to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $141,900 median home), income ($106,014 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Montgomery, AL are about 1,171 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.