Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Carrollton leads 15 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
Montgomery
Alabama
8
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.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Households earn $41,214 more per year on average
77% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,300
Higher rents — median is $1,555/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $185k less ($141,900 vs $327,300)
Rent averages $529/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,555)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Carrollton
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Carrollton by $41,214/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Median Income
$41,214
$95,380 vs $54,166/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
77% lower
137.1 vs 594.6 per 100k
Carrollton
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$185k less
$141,900 vs $327,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 53.5% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton'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, Carrollton leads 15 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 15 and Montgomery wins 8. 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 Carrollton to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $141,900 median home), income ($95,380 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Montgomery, AL are about 620 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.