Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 13 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Montgomery
Alabama
13
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.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $35,046 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $543k less ($141,900 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $955/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,981)
5% less violent crime than Boston
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $35,046/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$35,046
$89,212 vs $54,166/yr
Boston
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Violent Crime
5% lower
594.6 vs 627.9 per 100k
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$543k less
$141,900 vs $684,900
Montgomery
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 199,819 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 13 of 23 categories. Boston wins 10 and Montgomery wins 13. 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 Boston to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $141,900 median home), income ($89,212 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Montgomery, AL are about 1,082 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.