Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Columbia leads 13 of 23 categories
Columbia
Missouri
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
126,172
Montgomery
Alabama
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
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.
Columbia, MO
Pros
42% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.0%)
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,289 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $107k less ($141,900 vs $248,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Columbia by $6,289/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$6,289
$60,455 vs $54,166/yr
Columbia
Violent Crime
42% lower
347.5 vs 594.6 per 100k
Columbia
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.0% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$107k less
$141,900 vs $248,600
Montgomery
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 90.8 |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,026 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 13 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 13 and Montgomery wins 10. 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 Columbia to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $141,900 median home), income ($60,455 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Montgomery, AL are about 569 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.