Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 17 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Montgomery
Alabama
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166 ✓ Higher
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.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $19k less ($123,000 vs $141,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Montgomery by $11,702/yr
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Montgomery, AL
Pros
52% less violent crime than Birmingham
Households earn $11,702 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 55°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$19k less
$123,000 vs $141,900
Montgomery
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Income
$11,702
$54,166 vs $42,464/yr
Montgomery
Violent Crime
52% lower
594.6 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Montgomery
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $141,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,026 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $54,166 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 54.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 199,819 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 17 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 6 and Montgomery wins 17. 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 Birmingham to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $141,900 median home), income ($42,464 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Montgomery, AL are about 87 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.