Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 15 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Montgomery
Alabama
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
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.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $55k less ($87,400 vs $141,900)
Rent averages $175/mo less ($851 vs $1,026)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Montgomery
Cons
Median income trails Montgomery by $16,895/yr
Violent crime (1561.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4426.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (11.9% vs 7.2%)
Montgomery, AL
Pros
62% less violent crime than Cleveland
Households earn $16,895 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (7.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$55k less
$87,400 vs $141,900
Montgomery
Median Income
$16,895
$54,166 vs $37,271/yr
Montgomery
Violent Crime
62% lower
594.6 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Montgomery
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
7.2% vs 11.9% unemployment
Montgomery
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 90.8 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $141,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,026 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $54,166 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 199,819 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 15 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 8 and Montgomery wins 15. 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 Cleveland to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $141,900 median home), income ($37,271 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Montgomery, AL are about 680 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.