Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 13 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.1%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Households earn $3,537 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $89k less ($141,900 vs $230,500)
28% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 51°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Chattanooga
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.1%)
Median income trails Chattanooga by $3,537/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Median Income
$3,537
$57,703 vs $54,166/yr
Chattanooga
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.1% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Violent Crime
28% lower
594.6 vs 823.7 per 100k
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$89k less
$141,900 vs $230,500
Montgomery
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 54.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 13 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 9 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 Chattanooga to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $141,900 median home), income ($57,703 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Montgomery, AL are about 197 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.